Nagasaki revealed on Wednesday that whichever operator is selected as the prefecture’s IR partner will be required to cough up more than JPY168 million (US$1.5 million) to cover the cost of the RFP process and background checks.
The latest cost expectation, which will include JPY158 million (US$1.5 million) for the RFP and JPY10 million (US$92,000) for the background check, comes after Nagasaki officials revealed in January that the operator would also be expected to contribute around JPY 14.7 billion (US$141 million) to improve traffic infrastructure near the proposed IR site.
The question of RFP costs was raised at the opening of the prefectural general affairs council by Councilman Norihiro Miyamoto.
Takeshi Komiya, Director of the prefecture’s IR Promotion Division, replied, “There will be a basic agreement concluded between the prefecture and operator and in the end the operator will cover JPY158 million of the burden. That amount will cover the expenses of the RFP thus far and part of the expenses in integrating with the operator and working toward the development plan.”
Asked about any additional costs, Komiya pointed to the JPY20.5 billion (US$189 million) cost of acquiring the 31-hectare candidate site at Huis Ten Bosch, while “the three operators who pass the primary round will each pay JPY10 million for background checks.”
There are five companies registered for Nagasaki’s RFP, although that number is due to be whittled down to three this month before the process continues to the next stage.