Taipei's Palace Museum to delay fee increase  

台北故宫调高门票价格引争议 延到7月实施

台北故宫博物院大幅调涨门票一事引发争议。院长冯明珠21日在临时召开的记者会上宣布，原本预计4月15日开始涨门票，现在增加3个月宣导期，到7月1日再实施。

Taipei (CNS) - The admission fee increase at Taipei's Palace Museum, which had been scheduled to take effect on April 15, was delayed to July 1, according to Fung Ming-chu, director of the museum, on Thursday.

Fung gave a speech on Wednesday at the local legislature, saying that admission fees to Taipei's Palace Museum would be increased in response to rising costs.

The price of regular tickets will be increased from NT$160 to NT$250, while group tickets will cost NT$250 instead of NT$100, including NT$20 for an audio guide, Fung said. The price of discounted tickets for students and military personnel will be raised from NT$80 to NT$150.

Fung rejected speculation that the increase in group tickets was targeting mainland tourists. She said that group admission to the museum is low compared with other museums, and in addition to mainland tourists, the museum gets many Japanese visitors.

The fee increase triggered different responses. An official from a Taiwan association of travel agents said the fee was being raised without prior coordination with related industries. Taiwan and mainland travel agents sign annual contracts, so the extra fees may end up being absorbed by local agencies, he said.

On Thursday, Fung said the fee increase will be delayed, to July 1, with three months of promotions. The admission fees were adjusted because of rising electricity rates and personnel costs, Fung emphasized.