The Palace Museum Reconsiders Ticket Price Hike Proposed in April 2014 — Up to 1.5x Increase

▲ The National Palace Museum announced today that it will raise entry ticket prices in April 2014. (Photo / Courtesy of the National Palace Museum official website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The National Palace Museum, which had planned to raise ticket prices in April 2013 but did not go through with it, proposed again on the 4th that ticket fees will be increased in April 2014. The group tickets will see the largest increase, from 100 to 230 New Taiwan Dollars. An additional 20 NTD will be charged if headphones are required, with the highest increase reaching up to 150%!

The Palace Museum’s ticket price hike plan in April this year drew public backlash. The Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee believed that the national treasures within the museum belong to all citizens and should not rely on ticket sales as a source of income, leading to the proposal being halted at an early stage.

Today (the 4th), during the budget review meeting for the Palace Museum’s 2014 annual budget, the museum once again proposed the price hike to the Education and Culture Committee. According to the details provided by the museum for the various ticket price adjustments, the general admission ticket will rise from 160 to 250 NTD, an increase of about 56%; group tickets will see the largest increase, from 100 to 230 NTD, and an additional 20 NTD will be charged for headphones, with an increase of up to 150%; discounted tickets will rise from 80 to 150 NTD, an increase of around 88%.

Feng Mingzhu, Director of the National Palace Museum, stated that currently there are 18 types of eligible groups, including students and disadvantaged individuals, who can enjoy discounted prices. Taiwanese citizens can also purchase discounted tickets by presenting their ID cards. However, due to the upcoming increase in the minimum wage next year, rising personnel costs, as well as significantly higher operational expenses such as utilities and other equipment, the museum plans to raise ticket prices next year.