A potential integrated resort (IR) in Japan’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido could generate annual economic ripple effects of up to JPY550 billion ($3.5 billion) after opening, according to a private-sector estimate cited by the local media Yomiuri Shimbun.
The estimate, prepared in June, put the annual impact at between JPY190 billion ($1.2 billion) and JPY550 billion, the newspaper reported.
It assumed the resort would attract between 5.6 million and 8.2 million visitors annually, generating resort sales of between JPY140 billion ($902 million) and JPY410 billion ($2.6 billion).
The project could support between 19,000 and 56,000 jobs a year once operational. During construction, investment was projected to generate JPY1.54 trillion ($9.9 billion) in economic ripple effects and create 93,000 jobs.
The projections are not part of a government-approved development plan, and the report did not identify the private company behind the estimate.
Hokkaido has yet to decide whether to enter Japan’s next IR application round, scheduled to run from May 6 to November 5, 2027.
Eight local business groups earlier this month urged Governor Naomichi Suzuki to advance the initiative, while the prefectural government presented a final draft of its revised IR policy to the Hokkaido assembly.
The prefecture withdrew from the first application round in 2019, citing environmental concerns and insufficient time to fully assess prospective sites.
Japan has approved one IR project to date: MGM Osaka, which is scheduled to open in 2030.
