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To bring tourists to the small islet of Matsu, located off-shore in the Strait of Taiwan, the local Matsu government looked at having casinos and organized a referendum. With an eye on both Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese travellers gambling in Macau.
TAIPEI- It started in 2000 as an effort to help development in Taiwan’s outlying islands. That year, the legislature passed the Offshore Islands Development Act, a law designed to promote tourism. But an amendment voted in 2009 subsequently included the construction of casinos as part of the possible future islands’ development at one condition: casinos can only be declared legal if approved by a local referendum. In 2009, inhabitants of Penghu Island rejected a casino in a referendum called by pro-gambling lobby groups in 2009 pushed for a referendum on Penghu, but it was defeated. And now it has been the turn of Matsu grouping of 19 islets to go to the poll for the same issue. On July 7, Matsu inhabitants voted in favour of the casino by 1,795 pro against 1,341 contra. Matsu is just a few miles away from the Southeast Coast of China but its 9,500 inhabitants are under Taiwanese jurisdiction.
Editorials from local newspapers analyzing the result pointed out that Matsu had nothing to lose to say yes. In fact they had anything to gain from as the Island is one of the least developed in the country. Immediately after the poll, Weidner Resorts Taiwan, which has already gained a concession in case of a positive outcome, already announced that it would not only build a resort casino, but also contribute to the development of infrastructure on Matsu Island. National government also drafted legislation on casino development and management issues which must now be examined.
Matsu should then be the first district in Taiwan to get a casino and Islanders expect to become an attractive destination not only for local Taiwanese but also for Mainland Chinese. Except that another poll is looming already in another Island. Kimen, already equipped with better infrastructure, could look now at the opportunity to hold a referendum on the same issue. And if it wins, it could prove the most attractive option for both domestic and Chinese gamblers.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
