Shops at scenic spot face outpouring of criticism for charging tourists rain shelter fee – US$3.5 for standing, US$5.6 for sitting
- Authorities are making inquiries after tourist posted video of a restaurant telling travellers seeking shelter from rain to pay
- Several people online say they have had similar experiences when seeking refuge at same tourist attraction
Shops at the Mount Tai tourist area in eastern China have caused controversy after it was revealed they were charging tourists for shelter from heavy rain.
In a viral video, the owner of a restaurant located at the top of Mount Tai in Shandong province is seen outside the eatery loudly telling a group of rain-soaked travellers the fees for sheltering inside – 25 yuan (US$3.5) for standing and 40 yuan (US$5.6) for sitting, The Paper reported.
The tourist who took the video said he climbed the mountain on the evening of July 24, hoping to watch the sunrise the following morning.
However, when they encountered heavy rainfall, they found there was no shelter from the rain at the summit, said the man, whose name was not mentioned in the video.
Desperate, he paid the restaurant for shelter after seeing other tourists, including children, who were drenched.
An anonymous official from the area’s tourist complaint centre said they had identified two stores charging tourists for rain shelter and were investigating.
“It’s legal for them to charge for products and services they provide at their venues. But we are checking whether collecting fees for shelter from the rain is reasonable,” the official said.
Another official from the Mount Tai tour zone management committee told the Global Times that they were conducting an investigation into the shelter fees and said that stores found profiting from the weather would face punishment.
“Whenever it rains, we have an emergency plan to deal with the situation. We will let nearby temples and commercial venues open their doors to accommodate tourists for free.” the official said. “So far, I have not heard of any cases of charging fees.”
But some internet users said they had the same experience when visiting the mountain.
“Five years ago, when I travelled to Mount Tai, and there was a rainstorm, I had to stay inside a shop but only after I paid a fee. I have to say those shops still have a bit of conscience because the fees have remained the same,” one person said sarcastically.
“Last week, I was at Mount Tai and was caught in the rain. A restaurant near the South Heavenly Gate charged me 50 yuan for shelter. I was stunned and felt bitterly disappointed,” another person said.
Mainland Chinese social media users were split on whether shops should charge tourists for shelter.
One person said: “They are disgraceful! They absolutely deserve serious punishment.”
But another person supported the shops: “I don’t think the fees are expensive. If a lot of people gather inside those places, how do the shops do business? After all, they are not doing charity work; they still need to pay rent and other operation costs.”
“Imagine if the shops simply closed their doors and wouldn’t even consider charging any fees for shelter. Wouldn’t that be interesting?” another person said.
Stories about tourist fees regularly trend on mainland social media.
Earlier this week, a female tourist reported to the police in Yunnan in southwestern China that a convenience store asked her to pay 168 yuan (US$25) to use their toilet. After police mediation, the toilet fee was reduced to 6 yuan.
