On June 18, Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee directed functional sectors and localities to get involved in inspecting the adjustment of entrance ticket prices at Eo Gio Tourist Area (Quy Nhon Dong ward).
Accordingly, the Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Finance to coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Quy Nhon Dong Ward People's Committee and related units to inspect and review the basis for forming entrance ticket prices at Eo Gio Tourist Area; assess the suitability of price adjustments to the actual situation at the tourist area; propose handling directions for contents that are not in accordance with regulations.
Previously, on June 15, Hanoi Star Real Estate Joint Stock Company announced that from June 15, it would adjust the entrance ticket price to Eo Gio from 22,000 VND/turn to 50,000 VND/turn, an increase of more than 127%.
However, Quy Nhon Dong Ward People's Committee found that the winning bidder only received management and exploitation of Eo Gio Tourist Area in a short time. Up to now, the enterprise has not deployed significant investment in technical infrastructure, landscape, works serving tourists or supplementing new tourism products and services.
Activities at Eo Gio Tourist Area are currently basically maintained as in the period when the locality directly managed it before, mainly selling sightseeing tickets, and there are no additional services commensurate with the expected ticket price adjustment.
The increase in ticket prices from 22,000 VND to 50,000 VND/trip when there is no commensurate investment in infrastructure, amenities and service quality may cause dissatisfaction among people, tourism businesses and tourists; affecting the competitiveness of destinations.
In the context that the province is focusing on developing tourism into an important economic sector, increasing ticket prices at a high level risks reducing the number of visitors, affecting the operations of travel businesses, accommodation establishments, restaurants, transportation services, commerce and livelihoods of people participating in tourism activities in the area.
Eo Gio is a famous natural scenic spot, a public asset and a symbolic tourist destination. Therefore, the adjustment of ticket prices needs to be considered carefully, ensuring harmony of interests between the State, investors, people and tourists, ensuring the goal of sustainable tourism development.
Quy Nhon Dong Ward People's Committee proposed that the Provincial People's Committee temporarily not apply the ticket price of 50,000 VND/trip until the operating unit completes investment in infrastructure, landscape, products and tourism services according to the committed plan.
Direct relevant departments and branches to review and comprehensively assess the basis for building ticket prices and the impact of price adjustments on tourism activities; propose to operating units to develop a price adjustment roadmap suitable to the level of investment, service quality and tourist affordability.
Organize to collect opinions from specialized agencies, local authorities, travel businesses and related units before deciding to adjust ticket prices to create consensus and ensure compliance with the province's tourism development orientation.
