Who Will Be Lucky Enough to Get an IIR?
Over 50% of Taiwan’s Cities and Counties Are Keen to Have One to Boost the Local Economy
The Council for Economic Development (CEPD), Executive Yuan has put forward the concept of allowing the establishment of tourist casinos in the form of International Integrated Resorts (IIR) of. After the news was announced, while government bodies continue to set related regulations, it is necessary for there to be a consensus in society if big strides forward are to be made. The support and affirmation of city and county government is also a key for the development of IIR.
Establishing IIR, under the precondition of having the pull of a conference/exhibition venue meeting venue, is intended to increase tourism and stimulate the local economy. However, not all cities or counties are willing to be the home of an IIR. Event Platform carried out a survey asking the opinion of the commissioners of cities and counties around Taiwan, with the findings to be used as reference in the opening of tourist casinos in Taiwan.
The Event Platform interview and survey team used the Executive Yuan idea and the conditions of NT$50 billion and 50 hectares of land required for an IIR investment case as the main body of the questionnaire and whether IIR location should be designated by the central government or plans put forward by cities or counties, the ability of cities and counties to provide land and attract foreign investment, whether to build IIR in a built up area or a more remote, less developed area, whether IIR should be combined with ordinary tourism or exhibition business and social order problems as the basis of the questionnaire. Interview surveys were conducted with 22 county or city commissioners in Taiwan (because Taipei and Kaohsiung receive more central government funds and Lianjang County’s geographical factors the three were not include in the survey). In the 22 questionnaires, 15 responding commissioners (68.2%) expressed an opinion on IIR (support or not support) while seven either had no opinion or had gave opinion. The return rate was 100%
IIR concept achieves wide consensus
Of the 15 commissioners who gave an opinion, 12 either supported or were interested in IIR (80%), with three saying they did not support or weren’t interested (20%). The commissioners of cities in West Taiwan who supported IIR were more numerous than those in the east and those in the south more than the north. By political party, of the commissioners supporting or being interested in IIR, 66.6% were KMT with 33.3% in the DPP. The three commissioners who did not support IIR were all KMT.
Of the seven commissioners who had no opinion or gave no opinion, five were KMT, or 71.4%, with two DPP or 28.6% .
Of the three county commissioners without opinions on IIR, Hsinchu County’s said that IIR will not attract foreign enterprises or investment and he also has no interest in attracting foreign enterprises or investment to build an IIR, that the county is a simple one and quality life environment should be the main objective of policy. However, he also thought that IIR would stimulate local economies. Hsinchu City’s said the city does not have enough land and it also has no interest in establishing an IIR. He also thought that IIP would not attract foreign investment. Commissioner Lin Zheng-zhi did think, however, that local economies in Taiwan will not be boosted by the establishment of IIR.
The reason Chiayi City’s is not interested is that the city is too small and this is not conducive to the establishment of an IIR. The commissioner also did not think that an IRR will boost the local economy. The commissioner has already positioned the city as a Yun-chia-nan tourism and leisure city. She did, however, think that IRR will attract foreign investment to Taiwan.
The commissioners that supported or expressed an interest in IRR thought that IRR will stimulate the local economy and will help ordinary tourism and exhibition business, also accepting the “tourist casino and exhibition venue built together” method and believing that IRR will attract foreign investment to Taiwan. Wang Chien-chiang, commissioner of Penghu County, even believes that, according to the special local features, low stakes gambling can be combined with conferences and exhibitions, shopping or other themes.
IIR conditions should be strict but flexible
In the CEPD’s plan, IIR it was originally intended to have the central government designate where IIR would be established. In the survey, when asked if IIR should be put forward by cities and counties or designated by the central government, most commissioners said that the various cities and counties putting forward their request to establish an IIR then the central government’s bodies carrying thorough and overall assessment would be more suited to their expectations and needs. Chiayi County’s said that the central government should designate where IIR are established, while Ilan’s said that both ways can be used. Penghu County’s said that the“ The Executive Yuan should control overall numbers, concentrate special zones and let Penghu have priority”
As for whether the conditions that IIR investment cases should involve over NT$50 billion and 50 hectares of land are too strict, Taipei County, Keelung City and Miaoli County thought that the restrictions are not necessary and too strict, but the other commissioners did not think so.
