1,200 scenic spots cutting ticket prices? Come on!
Netizens complain: Is this just a promotion for off-the-beaten-path destinations?
Major holidays in China have long been associated with widespread price hikes at popular tourist attractions — a practice that has drawn constant criticism. The recent move to start charging entry fees at Fenghuang Ancient Town nearly sparked public outrage. In response, China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced yesterday that during the May Day holiday, over 1,200 scenic spots under government pricing or government-guided pricing will offer discounted tickets, with an overall reduction of nearly 20%. However, what seems like a great deal is actually a “numbers game” and a “wordplay trick,” leaving netizens shocked and exclaiming, “We can’t afford to play along!”
The discounted spots are all off the beaten path
According to statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission, among the more than 1,200 scenic spots offering discounted tickets, there are 60 5A-level, about 350 4A-level, and around 800 3A-level or lower-tier scenic spots, with an average discount of 20% on ticket prices. Provinces including Hubei, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Xinjiang have stated that all government-priced or government-guided scenic spots within their jurisdictions will offer discounted tickets during the May Day holiday.
Although the announcement is grand, reporters found that most of the discounted scenic spots listed by various provinces and cities are not well-known or popular among the general public. Some netizens, after seeing the list of discounted spots, said, “I didn’t even know these places existed. Is this just a promotion for off-the-beaten-path destinations?”
Raise prices before the peak season, then cut them
It is understood that as early as 2007, the National Development and Reform Commission stipulated that the frequency of ticket price increases at scenic spots should not be less than once every three years. This year happens to be within the lifting cycle, and many scenic spots across the country had already raised their prices before the peak tourist season arrived. For example, the ticket price for Slender West Lake in Yangzhou rose from 120 yuan to 150 yuan, and the ticket for Mount Emei in Sichuan increased from 150 yuan to 185 yuan. Media reports indicated that among other scenic spots that raised prices, the highest increase reached as much as 167%.
What was supposed to be “no price hikes for three years” turned into “price hikes every three years.” And after this round of “discounts,” the ticket price for Slender West Lake went back from 150 yuan to 120 yuan — the same amount as the previous hike. The ticket price for Mount Emei dropped from 185 yuan to 165 yuan, but the discounted price is still 15 yuan higher than before the increase. Travel enthusiasts like Ms. Zhang, an avid “travel bug,” told reporters, “Faced with these number games at tourist attractions, we really can’t afford to play — and we can’t afford to get hurt either.”
Huangshan and Emei only offer discounts after the holiday
The National Development and Reform Commission clearly stated that the discount period for this round of scenic spot ticket prices is “during the May Day holiday.” According to the notice from the State Council Holiday Office, this year’s May Day holiday runs from April 29 to May 1. However, reporters found that some of the discounted scenic spots listed by the NDRC do not fall within the official May Day holiday period, but rather just before or after. For example, the discount period for Liaoning Tiger Beach Ocean Park is from May 2 to 5, Anhui’s Huangshan Mountain scenic area offers discounts from May 2 to 4, and the core area of Wulingyuan in Hunan and Mount Emei in Sichuan have discounts from May 2 to 7.