Lower entry fees set to hit operators of China’s biggest tourist spots hardest
Michael Wang is one of hundreds of millions of Chinese tourists to travel within the country each year, exploring its many natural wonders, heritage sites and beauty spots.
But he may decide to go abroad for his next holiday. Like many, he’s getting fed up of having to pay what he considers exorbitant prices to access the mainland’s most popular scenic attractions.
“I am losing my interest in visiting the domestic historical sites and places of interest,” said Wang, a Shanghai-based entrepreneur. “I felt disappointed every time. It’s like I pay several hundred yuan to just get a few photos inside.”
China’s top tourist attractions to dangle cheaper tickets
The lofty ticket prices have become so prohibitive that the government looks set to intervene, worried that the domestic tourism boom could run out of steam. It is widely seen as a major driving force behind the economy’s transition into one that relies on consumer spending rather than manufacturing for growth.
I felt disappointed every time. It’s like I pay several hundred yuan to just get a few photos inside
Prime Minister Li Keqiang said in his work report at the National People’s Congress that the government is considering cutting admission fees for major tourist attractions in a bid to maintain the impressive growth rate. Chinese tourists made 5 billion domestic trips in 2017, up 12.8 per cent from a year earlier, according to the National Tourism Administration.