Gov't to focus on development of islands

While addressing the opening of a gaming workshop attended by officials from various government agencies yesterday, Minister Mao said the gaming business is only a measure to achieve the goals of economic and tourism development.

He reaffirmed the government's plan to adopt the Singapore model under which casinos are only part of a wide range of recreational and tourism facilities.

It is impossible for investors to build just a hotel to house a casino, he said.

Mao said the workshop on gaming operations will help officials from various agencies to better supervise and manage the gaming business.

There will be four major phases for launching the gaming industry in Taiwan.

The initial step is the holding of a referendum among residents.

If the majority of residents in offshore Penghu County support the plan to open tourist casinos on the Penghu Islands, the government will make public the program to accept investment applications, he said.

Investors are required to first construct vacation facilities before building casinos.

The final step will be to formally open gaming business operations to the public.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications will coordinate with other government agencies to form a gaming supervisory and management committee.

The issue concerning whether to set up a gaming management bureau will be decided at a later date, Mao said.

Wang Chih-hui, a section chief at the Department of Urban and Housing Development under the Council for Economic Planning and Development, noted that it is impossible to open a gaming business without facing certain consequences.

It is similar to the development of major amusement parks or theme parks in Taiwan, as all of them have a certain impact on the environment, he said.

The key is to minimize the negative impacts and place tourism over the gaming business, he said.

He expects the government to consider issuing two licenses for casinos at the beginning.

Taiwan possesses the advantages of having beautiful scenery and a favorable geographical location, although it faces competition from gaming business in neighboring areas like Macao, Singapore, and Korea, he pointed out.

Penghu Islands are more suitable for gaming businesses than the frontline island of Kinmen, which is much closer to China but might face the risk that Beijing authorities might crack down on gambling one day, Wang observed.

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