The Philippines’ Bloomberry Resorts and France’s Groupe Barrière have confirmed their intention to pursue an IR license in the Japanese city of Wakayama on day one of the Wakayama IR Business Development Seminar.
Taking the stage to make the case for selection as the city and prefecture’s operator partner, Mitsuaki Kiriyama – Vice President Japan Office for Bloomberry’s Solaire Resort – stated, “We have been hoping for this opportunity. Osaka and Wakayama can both succeed and we can expect a synergistic effect between the two.”
Expressing a similar sentiment was Group Barriere’s Jonathan Strock, who revealed the company would soon be opening an office in Wakayama.
The Wakayama IR Business Development Seminar saw 300 attendees from 200 companies including overseas operators, local small and medium businesses, major Japanese financial institutions and construction companies gather together on Tuesday.
Tatsunobu Yokoyama, the prefecture’s Director of Planning and Policy, stated, “Wakayama is close to Kansai International Airport and the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area, rich in history, culture and nature with great food too.
“This area has plenty of potential for selection. We believe that we will be certified if we establish a suitable business plan.”
The reaction from local companies attending the event was positive too, with Tamao Nakamura – a representative of a local security company focusing on tourism development stating, “Staff shortages are a big problem. IR is an attractive solution for an area like Wakayama that is losing its population.”
