Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN MAR 2019 30 COVER STORY We understand that and we support the government and the community wanting to make sure that certain industries are being protected, but at the same time, we have to ask ourselves the question: How can we do it, making sure that at the same time we don’t lose competitiveness? We do offer a lot of training and we do actually have a program where we give priority to local people for promotions. While we are all doing that, at the same time, we still need to be realistic and say that from here on, Macau’s not just competing among the six of us. We’re competing with competitors outside of the jurisdiction and that is where we need hopefully to have the understanding and the sympathetic view of the community. We will continue to communicate to the government and people [so] they all understand that they have to support us to be successful. We are the biggest taxpayer in here and this is the biggest industry that we have in Macau. We need to make sure it will continue to be healthy and growing stronger. MC: A lot of people say Galaxy seems to be the best plugged into what the government here, and the government in Beijing, want from Macau. FL: We are grateful that we are a concessionaire. At the end of the day, we need to do what the government and the people want us to achieve so we continue to be a concessionaire. MC: How do you know what the government wants? FL: Communication is a big part of it. You always have opportunities to be sitting down with the government at functions and events. You read the newspaper. You go to meetings and so on, so you have all sorts of opportunity to be able to read what the government and the people want. We have to make sure that we are sensitive to what’s going on and continue to toe the line. MC: What about Galaxy’s project in Boracay? FL: It’s a new concept we want to try. We felt like customers are sophisticated enough to be loving the sun and the sea. They’d like to have an alternative destination and Boracay seems to be the perfect place. We’re not thinking about bringing Galaxy to Boracay. No. We’re going to bring a low- density eco-friendly resort, a beach resort, to Boracay. It’s very different. MC: Is there more clarity on the project? FL: So far, no. We’re still communicating through our partner. We are still wanting the people there to understand that there’s a misconception. I’m sure that once the truth is being told and understood about how our project would not be a big project, then people will come to know that this is the type of project that is needed to invigorate the brand Boracay used to have. It’s always been one of the