Eight Hokkaido business groups, including the Hokkaido Economic Federation, submitted a formal request to Governor Suzuki and the prefectural assembly on September 8, calling for accelerated preparations for an integrated resort bid. The groups are asking the prefecture to begin site selection, allocate budget, and form a team to develop the project concept.
The business groups warned that if the two remaining slots under Japan's national quota are filled by other prefectures, "the chance to attract an IR to Hokkaido will never return." Japan permits only three integrated resorts nationwide. The next application window opens May 6 and closes November 5, 2027, according to the Japan Tourism Agency's March 10 announcement.
The organisations argued that an IR would help disperse tourist concentration from central Hokkaido and support demand during the low spring and autumn seasons. Convention facilities and additional attractions could distribute visitor flow across the prefecture and ensure year-round occupancy.
The business groups also demanded public discussion of both benefits and risks of an IR project. The document calls for studying problem gambling measures applied in Osaka and abroad, and developing protective mechanisms for Hokkaido itself.
Under Japanese law, a prefecture or major city must submit a development plan jointly with a private partner for central government approval. The eight-group petition is a request for preparatory action, not a government decision to file a bid.
