Yokohama city has announced its Implementation Policy Draft, outlining the basics of an IR facility and the role of the operator, among other matters, as it moves toward an IR bid.
The Implementation Policy Draft and Recruitment Guidelines Draft stipulating the procedure for potential operators were submitted to the council’s standing committee on Friday. It has been reported that there will be symposiums and briefings for residents following submission of the drafts.
The Implementation Policy Draft stipulates that, along with any casino, a Yokohama IR must incorporate an international conference hall, attractive non-gaming facilities and hotels to be operated privately. It also calls for the operator to make efforts for crisis management and tourism/economic revitalization, and includes rules for if an operator experiences financial difficulties.
The committee members who attended Friday’s meeting expressed said that only submissions that are “beneficial to Yokohama” should be accepted.
The draft policies will be discussed further at future council meetings and, once approved, is planned to then proceed to open recruitment of operators.
Yokohama city’s mayor, Fumiko Hayashi, announced the city’s intention to bid for an IR in August 2019 and it was initially planned that the implementation policy would be published in the first half of 2020.
However, due to the pandemic and delays at national government level, work such as drafting the policy was delayed.
