Although more than a thousand scenic spots have offered discounts, reporters found that the extent of the discounts varies significantly. Most well-known scenic spots still remain at a high price of over "100 yuan" even after the reduction. In response, Han Dahei, a travel guide expert from Mafengwo, pointed out that some famous scenic spots have a very large number of visitors and do not need to rely on price cuts to attract tourists, while smaller scenic spots are more eager to take advantage of the May Day holiday policies to gain more visitors and build their reputation.
According to the NDRC's list of price reductions, some scenic spots offer discounts of over 50%, such as the Beijing Chinese Culture Park and the Inner Mongolia Arxan Chaihe Tourist Area. A few scenic spots, like the Lishui Nanming Mountain Scenic Area and the Yueyang Tower in Hunan, are even free during the May Day holiday. Of course, the majority of scenic spots have discounts of no more than 20%, especially the well-known ones, which are generally around 20%. For example, Huangshan’s original ticket price was 230 yuan, reduced to 184 yuan during the May Day holiday—a 20% discount. Sichuan’s Mount Emei originally cost 185 yuan, reduced to 165 yuan, a mere 10.8% discount. Additionally, popular attractions like Tibet’s Potala Palace are not included in this round of discounts.
Travel guide experts from Mafengwo suggest that tourists should avoid the overcrowding at famous scenic spots during holidays. Aside from those who plan long trips by taking extra leave, it’s a good idea to choose nearby discounted scenic spots. Before departure, browse travel blogs and information online to get a better understanding of the scenic areas. Han Dahei believes that some lesser-known scenic spots actually rival the beauty of famous ones but remain unknown due to later development, making them excellent choices for travelers.
Han Dahei also pointed out that scenic spots are actually iconic central points within a region and can drive income for other surrounding industries. For many scenic spots, offering ticket discounts can boost other aspects of tourism revenue, which is a smart move. However, with the surge in visitors during holidays, how to manage reception and improve surrounding facilities remains a challenge for many scenic spots, especially less-developed or newly established ones. This is not only the responsibility of the local scenic area operators but also of the local government. Failing to address these issues means ticket discounts won’t earn a good reputation, and in the long run, it won’t benefit the local tourism industry.