The National Development and Reform Commission last month issued a notice that said scenic attractions will not be allowed to raise ticket prices before the week-long National Day holiday, a peak traveling season in China.

The notice came at a time when many famous scenic spots around the country already had raised their ticket prices by 30 percent on average in August.

For example, the ticket price for Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan province was increase from 70 yuan per person to 90 yuan per person at the beginning of August, up 28 percent. The cable car at Emeishan Mountain in Sichuan is 60 percent more expensive than before August.

Local authorities in Yunnan province will soon hold a hearing about whether to increase the ticket price for Stone Forest from 140 yuan to 200 yuan per person.

Most of China's scenic spots are public entities, and ticket sales make up part of the local governments' fiscal revenues.

Managers at scenic attractions said they must increase prices because of rising costs in protecting the spots, many of which have been designated as World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites.

Others argued that they should no longer rely on ticket sales as the major source of income. Critics said ticket price hikes would only work as short-term solutions and would reduce the number of visitors, which would eventually hurt related sectors such as hotels .

Industry insiders, government officials and netizens expressed their views to National Business Daily and Shenzhen Economic Daily.

PROS

Chen Zaijian, a netizen from Shenzhen:

"Scenic spots are not only public resources, but also something our future generations should enjoy. They should be well-protected. Raising ticket prices is the most efficient way to control visits."

Ya Shan, netizen:

"Many people like to compare ticket prices in China with those in the West. But Western countries have already developed a mature set of policies to protect their natural and cultural heritage sites, which not only rely on government funding, but also on donations from numerous NGOs (non-government organizations). China is different. There are few NGO donations. Neither can the government cover all the costs. Ticket sales are usually the only source of revenues, so it is natural to see ticket price hikes."

CONS

Gong Fan, general manager of China International Travel Service in Sichuan:

"Higher ticket prices will definitely affect our business. Many customers are still sensitive to travel costs. If the costs are higher than what they expect, they won't travel. The local government should not just focus on ticket sales. They should look at revenues created by other related sectors such as hotels and catering."

Wei Xiao'an, tourism analyst

"The root of the debate is the growth model of scenic spots. There is definitely not much room for healthy growth if they only rely on ticket sales."

Xu Kunlin, deputy director of the pricing department of the National Development and Reform Commission:

"Scenic spots should increase their revenues by developing other tourism products and improving the quality of transportation and accommodation, rather than by raising ticket prices."

(China Daily 09/07/2009 page2)