On 18 January Ocean Tech Group announced it had been authorized by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan to execute a survey for an Integrated Resort (IR) to include casino and to provide strategic plans for the setting up of a casino resort in Taiwan together with standards for reviewing proposed investment. A questionnaire has apparently been sent to potential investors, which will be analysed in due course.

The IR is expected to include a theme park, hotel and convention centre, shopping mall and a casino. It is not clear who potential investors are but companies from Las Vegas, Macau and Austria have been mentioned. The Taiwanese government would like to encourage investment to the offshore islands but a proposed casino development on the Penghu Islands was vetoed by local residents in 2009.

The China Post reports that the casino project is for the islands of Kinmen and Matsu and that, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the IR with casino licences is unlimited for the offshore islands. No casinos will be allowed in mainland Taiwan. The government, in an attempt to increase visitor numbers, will allow special visas for Chinese visitors to Kinmen in April this year. The MOTC also intends to hold seminars on the offshore islands to encourage successful local referendum on the casino question. (E-02.14.11)

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