A Dutch-themed amusement park on Japan’s south-western coast is considering buying a deserted offshore island in an expansion to boost its appeal as a possible site for a casino resort.
“We are planning to buy new land at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park,” said Hideo Sawada, chairman of the Tokyo-based travel agency and park operator HIS. “There are a lot of deserted islands nearby.” He said at least Y100bn ($974m) is needed to fund a gambling resort at the park.
HIS, the country’s largest listed travel agency, plans to lease land to casino developers at Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki on the western edge of Japan’s Kyushu island.
Sawada bought the development in 2010, following its 2003 bankruptcy, and has returned the property to profit, partly by organising tours incorporating the park and hotels on the premises.
The travel agency is in talks with video game makers in Japan and overseas to partner in building what Sawada calls a “game kingdom.” He declined to name the companies involved in the negotiations.
