Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUN 2021年6月 亞博匯 60 space that allows for easy procedures or use without customs duties in order to facilitate smooth operation of world-class trade shows with foreign goods held by expos or public institutions. This is encouraging for an IR, which must incorporate MICE facilities. INITIAL INVESTMENT There is one more important point that is appealing to operators. The initial investment level would likely be lower than the “big guns” of Tokyo or Yokohama. With the COVID-19 pandemic having reduced the appetite for spending of upwards of US$10 billion, Aichi potentially represents an investment sweet spot that is lower than the large metropolitan centers but larger than the regional IRs proposed for Nagasaki and Wakayama. OFFICIAL VIEW According to a prefectural representative, “We are continuing to meet with operators who submitted proposals during the RFC. We are listening to opinions about how much the COVID-19 pandemic has affected operators, but we haven’t confirmed that any are able to commit to an IR in Japan. To be frank, we can’t be sure when the operators will fully recover so it’s hard to make a decision either way.” However, time is running out. Regarding that detail, the same representative said, “Other regions have already conducted RFPs and seem to be close to deciding on operators. We are aware that Aichi is a cycle or two behind them. We believe that we must make a correct decision taking into account the JAPAN