Just two weeks after confirming its intention to enter the race for an integrated resort, Yokohama has revealed it will host its first casino-related exhibition with the 1st Japan IR Expo to be held in the city on 29 and 30 January 2020.
This will be the first-ever trade show dedicated to integrated resorts in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The event will be organized by the Yokohama Integrated Resort Industry Exhibition Executive Committee and hosted by Innovent, Inc.
Local municipalities throughout Japan are jumping into action to become one of the nation’s three IR locations, illustrated by the August announcement of Yokohama mayor, Fumiko Hayashi, an IR bid for Yamashita Wharf.
In announcing the 1st Japan IR Expo in Yokohama, Innovent said, “The emersion of the IR market is starting to become a reality, leading to high demand for trade fairs in the business community. We will be holding an expo with all the products and services essential to achieving a Japanese IR, all under one roof.”
Major IR operators as well as interested parties from both within and outside of Japan were in attendance at the 1st Japan IR Expo in Osaka held in May. The 1st Japan IR Expo in Hokkaido is planned for December.
As part of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, Yokohama is a promising area for creating a huge market. While facing major challenges in terms of consensus, according to documentation announced on 22 August 2019 the city estimates approximately JPY750 billion to JPY1.2 trillion in economic effects at the time of building the property, and JPY630 billion to JPY1 trillion in economic ripple effect.
