Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch-inspired theme park in Sasebo, Nagasaki, is reportedly set to be sold. The attraction will be home to one of Japan’s first integrated resorts.
The Japan Times reports that travel conglomerate H.I.S. is considering selling the park and is in talks with companies including a Hong Kong-based investment firm.
Huis Ten Bosch is operated by Huis Ten Bosch Co, a subsidiary of H.I.S. According to reports, H.I.S. is looking to improve its financial situation post-pandemic. The company owns approximately 67 percent of Huis Ten Bosch.
Huis Ten Bosch is the largest theme park in Japan, covering an area of around 152 hectares. It recreates a Dutch town. Last year, Casinos Austria International was chosen to develop and operate the IR on 31 hectares at Huis Ten Bosch.
Casinos Austria owns and operates casinos, lotteries and online betting, with 12 casinos in Austria and 13 casinos across the world.
Casinos Austria developing integrated resort
“By passing this milestone in the award process in Japan, Casinos Austria International has once again demonstrated the kind of excellent reputation that the company enjoys abroad,” said Casinos Austria CEO Bettina Glatz-Kremsner.
“We picked the company because it gives us the best prospects for turning our plan into a reality,” a prefectural official said.
The IR will feature eight hotels, including some from Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The Asahi Shimbun reported that Nagasaki will invest up to 460 billion yen ($4.2 billion) in the project.
In 2020, Genting Singapore and Galaxy Entertainment exited the race to develop an IR in Osaka, leaving just MGM Resorts in the competition. The Osaka-based IR could open as early as 2027.
Huis Ten Bosch recently opened a new attraction for the first time in 11 years. Fantasia City of Lights features indoor areas that use state-of-the-art digital lighting and projection mapping technologies.
Images: Huis Ten Bosch/H.I.S.
