ＩＲ、観光振興へ重要　岸田首相

　岸田文雄首相は１１日の衆院代表質問で、カジノを含む統合型リゾート（ＩＲ）事業について「観光先進国となる上で重要な取り組みだ。引き続き必要な手続きを適切に進める」と述べた。立憲民主党の辻元清美副代表への答弁。
　ＩＲ誘致をめぐっては、８月の横浜市長選で山中竹春市長が反対を訴え初当選を果たした。首相は、日本のＩＲは依存症対策を講じるほか、施設も国際会議場やホテルなどカジノだけにとどまらないと指摘。「多くの観光客を呼び込み、地域への経済効果は大きい」と強調した。（2021/10/11-19:30）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida touted Monday the significance of proposed casino-featuring integrated resorts in promoting the country's tourism.
   The IR project is "a key initiative to make the country a tourism leader in the world," Kishida told a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower parliamentary chamber.
   "We'll continue taking necessary steps" to open the controversial tourist facilities, he said in reply to questions from Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a member of the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
   In August, Takeharu Yamanaka won the mayoral election in Yokohama by pledging to scrap the program to build a casino resort in the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.
   But Kishida stressed that an IR "should greatly contribute to the local economy by attracting many visitors" because it will comprise not only casinos but conference halls and hotels.