Tourist prices rise for spring

Many tourist destinations in China are increasing their ticket prices with the approach of peak tourist season after April, a move analysts said Sunday is intended to offset high operating costs.

The per capita admission fee at the Mount Emei Scenic Area in Southwest China's Sichuan Province went up by 19 percent from 150 yuan ($24) to 185 yuan on March 16, a normal price adjustment that has been approved by local administrations of tourist and commodity prices, a staff member told the Global Times on the condition of anonymity.

Similar price hikes are occurring at many other domestic tourist attractions.

Hong Kong Disneyland raised admission prices across the board Wednesday, according to figures from its website. The highest percentage increase shown was a jump from HK$499 to HK$585, or 14.7 percent, for an adult two-day ticket.

Fenghuang Ancient Town in Central China's Hunan Province will begin charging an additional entry fee on April 10, according to a statement posted by the government of Fenghuang county on March 22.

The town used to have free admission and charge 148 yuan apiece for two tour routes. But it now charges 148 yuan for entrance and 100 yuan per route, said the statement, in hopes of improving management and tourist services.

The prices of package tours in China, mainly determined by ticket fees, are also likely to increase, Zhang Qingzhu, marketing manager with Beijing-based China Comfort Travel, told the Global Times.

Most domestic tourist attractions earn money for development from entry fees, which account for more than 70 percent of their total revenues, Wei Changren, general manager of Beijing-based tourism industry research firm Jinlü Consulting, told the Global Times Sunday.

However, despite the new income generated by the higher ticket prices, services and administration at many tourist destinations are unlikely to improve because taxes and high operating costs lead to insufficient capital, said Wei, adding that over 50 percent of total revenues are used for labor costs and onsite maintenance.

He also noted that domestic tourist attraction operators should diversify their business modes since ticket fees are unlikely to remain a strong source of income as tourists become more and more price-sensitive.

The National Development and Reform Commission released a list of 80 domestic attractions that planned to lower ticket prices by an average of 37 percent after rapid price hikes in early 2012 caused complaints, the Global Times reported on September 21.

Li Qian, a 25-year-old Hebei resident, expressed her dissatisfaction when contacted by the Global Times Sunday, saying that ticket prices are high in China when compared with foreign attractions such as Yellowstone National Park in the US.

Such foreign tourist destinations rely mainly on government subsidies, unlike in China, noted Wei.