Quang Ninh Department of Transport requested to temporarily stop adjusting service prices through Tuan Chau International Passenger Port and Ha Long from April 1.
The request was made after a meeting organized by the Department of Transport between relevant parties in Quang Ninh on March 18. The authorities requested that Tuan Chau International Passenger Port and Ha Long International Passenger Port soon hold a meeting to discuss and reach an agreement with the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association and relevant units, as a basis for rebuilding a plan to collect service fees through the passenger port.
According to the Department of Transport, the adjustment of the collection level must have a clear and specific cause and basis and a suitable adjustment roadmap to avoid negative impacts on the general socio -economic development of Quang Ninh province.
Ha Long International Passenger Port in Bai Chay, Ha Long City. Photo: Le Tan
On February 29, two international ports in Quang Ninh announced that from April 1, passenger tickets through the port will increase from VND40,000/person/trip to VND60,000/person/trip. Of which, the elderly will receive a 50% discount, and children from 7 to 15 years old will receive a 20% discount.
For tourist boats, service fees will increase by VND50,000/trip; security and public lighting fees will increase by VND100,000/boat/month; boat mooring fees will increase from VND6,300/m2 of water surface/month to VND9,000/m2/month.
After the ports increased service prices and passenger tickets, the entrance fee to Ha Long Bay for each passenger will increase from 440,000 to 460,000 VND for route 1 (310,000 VND for entrance ticket, 150,000 VND for boat ticket). For route 2, the ticket price will increase from 490,000 to 510,000 VND (310,000 VND for entrance ticket and 200,000 VND for boat ticket). Of the 310,000 VND for entrance ticket, 60,000 VND is for port fees collected by the ports.
Many cruise ship businesses in Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay have voiced their opposition, saying that this is a sudden decision that affects their plans, finances, and the interests of tourists.
The Ha Long Tourist Boat Association has also sent a document proposing principles and roadmap for adjusting prices and service fees in the spirit of companionship, sharing difficulties and benefits of all parties, to the Management Board of the two ports and the authorities.
This association agrees to adjust the port service fee, thereby upgrading the quality of tourist services, but wants a suitable itinerary and according to the market inflation index for both sides to agree.
In 2023, the number of visitors to Ha Long Bay will reach nearly 2.5 million - less than in 2015 (2.6 million) and far less than in 2019 (nearly 4.5 million). From 2015 to 2019, Ha Long Bay welcomed over 18.2 million visitors, an average increase of 12% per year.
Le Tan
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