Companies Continue Japan IR Bid Despite Covid-19

Four of the five front-running companies in the bid for three integrated resort (IR) licenses are keen on competing despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey conducted by the Japan Integrated Resort Association (JIRA).

JIRA conducted the survey in June. The survey covered 132 companies that are involved in the bidding process. As many as 88 companies said they are willing to continue bidding, with 16 respondents suggesting that they are more interested now. Only one among the top-five companies that are tipped to win the bids answered that they are “less interested” in the project now in view of the Covid-19 situation.

Many companies, 118 to be exact, admitted that their bidding preparations had been affected by the pandemic-induced situation.

As expected, a majority of companies (61.4%) suggested problems in international travel as the main hindrance.

Among the respondents, 59.0% expect difficulty in forecasting demand, while 40.9% are concerned with the cost of infectious disease control measures.