Opponents

Liu Tao (www.cnr.cn): Although the introduction of entrance fee has led to a sharp decline in tourists, the local government said it would persist in its fee policy. The local government's explanation is that in the past, tourists also had to pay for scenic spots within the town, and now, as these scenic spots are put together as a package, tourists may spend even less while being admitted to more scenic spots. There is an even more favorable package: for those tourists who repeatedly come to the town within the same year, they can use the ticket repeatedly. Those who have bought the entrance ticket three times will be offered free access to the town for the rest of their lives. The question is, how many people will visit the same town so often? More importantly, most tourists are more interested in the architecture of the town than in the so-called scenic spots.

In 2008, Fenghuang County's annual tourism revenues stood at 1.9 billion yuan ($302 million), but only 129 million yuan ($21 million) was attributed to ticket charge. From January to November in 2011, the local tourism revenues reached 4.28 billion yuan ($679 million), with the ticket revenue standing only at 149 million yuan ($24 million). These statistics show the sharp contrast between the overall tourism revenues and ticket revenues. It is doubted that the local government is competing for economic interests with local people by adopting the fee policy.

No matter what the local government has said, it's an undeniable fact that there is sharp decline in tourists. Local business owners' and residents' protest must be carefully dealt with by the local government. Maybe the town will see a stable recovery of tourist numbers, as anyway, some tourists do not care about the entrance fee. It's also possible that this town will be excluded from most tourists' traveling schedules. Who knows? In the market economy, all this will depend on tourists' free choice. The results are yet to be seen.

Tao Duanfang (The Beijing News): This argument is based on the precondition that tourists go to visit the whole scenic area, but in most cases, tourists will only pick several scenic spots. Sometimes, they just come to walk around the ancient town, take a rest and experience local customs and lifestyle. In this case, they don't need to pay a penny for the trip.

Under the new policy, every sold ticket will bring the local government 60 yuan ($9.52) of income. Before adopting this new policy, the government did not consult with local businesses and residents. It is totally their unilateral decision.

It's all right that a local government wants to increase its tax revenue. But actually, it is losing more money due to the shrinking business in terms of catering, housing, and entertainment.

The government's job is to protect local people's interests by maintaining social and business order within the town. However, what it is doing will directly affect local people's interests and the long-run development of local tourism industry.

Local businesses are opposed to this fee policy, and the chorus of opposition is joined by many people around the country. The local government is now slipping into a dilemma. If it has already realized the seriousness of the problem and wants to make up, it should round up local business owners and residents for a hearing and try to set up a new fee policy that does not harm business and local residents' interests so much.

Xi Po (The Beijing News): According to the local tourism bureau, tourists may enjoy better travel experiences than before. However, based on people's reactions online, most of them are not interested in the "favorable package." They believe this kind of bundling is depriving tourists of the right of free choice in the process of travel. Tourists can no longer go around the town free of charge.

Also, when tourists have already paid to enter the town, they will not be so eager to consume as when they come to the town free of charge.

The local government must know that, while trying to increase revenues for itself, it should also pay attention to other members that are also living on the same interest chain.