Hon Kho Island entrance fee: Ticket price needs to be commensurate with service quality

Hon Kho Island is a famous beach tourist destination in Nhon Hai fishing village (Quy Nhon Dong ward) attracting a large number of tourists because of its pristine beauty, clear blue water and coral reefs near the shore. However, recently, when TOCEPO Trading and Service Company Limited (the unit investing in infrastructure and exploiting tourism on Hon Kho Island) announced to charge a fee of 80,000 VND/person/time to enter this tourist destination, starting from August 4, 2025, it has created many mixed opinions.

According to the Company's Notice No. 37/2025/TB-TOCEPO, this fee includes VAT and a number of services: Tourist insurance; reception, guidance and information support at the destination; use of beach umbrellas; cleaning and showering services; maintenance of infrastructure serving visitors; public cleaning services. The company believes that the fee collection is aimed at improving service quality, protecting the landscape, and aiming at sustainable development.

Notice of TOCEPO Trading and Service Company Limited on charging visitors to visit Hon Kho tourist site. **Photo: BN**

However, many locals and tourists believe that the fee of 80,000 VND is too high compared to the actual service available. Many opinions say that if a fee is collected, the quality of service needs to be improved and made clearer.

The pier was built by TOCEPO Trading and Service Company Limited on Hon Kho Island. **Photo: Doan Ngoc**

Mr. Phan Van Truong, a resident working in tourism in Hai Dong village (Quy Nhon Dong ward) shared: "Currently, there are not many attractive services on the island other than the natural landscape. If you only go to the island to swim and take photos and charge 80,000 VND, it is too high and unreasonable. Many tourists who heard this information did not return, or if they came to Nhon Hai, they only went to swim and have fun elsewhere, not to Hon Kho island like usual."

Similarly, Mr. Tran Xuan Hiep, owner of Huong Bien tourist restaurant (in Hai Bac village, Quy Nhon Dong ward) also said: "This price is only reasonable if it comes with services and amenities for tourists, such as: Being able to organize cultural activities such as performing arts such as singing and dancing, folk singing, circus, or building eco-friendly bamboo huts, enthusiastic support staff... to attract customers, commensurate with the ticket price".

According to local tourism workers, Hon Kho Island currently does not have many services to serve tourists other than sightseeing and swimming. **Photo: Doan Ngoc**

Mr. Nguyen Van Cong, Director of TOCEPO Trading and Service Company Limited, said: The company has invested in underground electricity, water, telecommunications systems, piers, beach club houses, shower houses, toilets... According to him: "Investment and operating costs on the island are much higher than on the mainland. Meanwhile, the tourist exploitation season is short, only about 6 months/year, mainly 3 summer months. This fee is only enough to cover operating costs, infrastructure maintenance, and insurance for guests."

In response to public opinion, the Company has temporarily suspended the fee collection to receive comments. Regarding the content of free tickets for children under 0.75 m tall accompanying their parents when going to Hon Kho Island as announced, Mr. Cong added: "We will adjust the content of free tickets for children under 1 m tall, as well as take into account preferential policies for local people during the official operation, and apply ticket collection".

In response to public opinion, the Company has temporarily suspended the fee collection to receive feedback. **Photo: Doan Ngoc**

The local government is also closely monitoring the incident to guide public opinion. Mr. Tran Viet Quang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Nhon Dong Ward, said: "Enterprises are leased land by the province to invest in tourism, so they have the right to set service prices. However, if the service does not match the ticket price, tourists will not come. From a local perspective, we will work with businesses to adjust ticket prices to match the accompanying services to suit the tourism development orientation."

Mr. Quang also said that Hon Kho Island is a valuable natural resource, which has long been exploited by local people for community tourism associated with protecting coral reefs, ecosystems and the marine environment. Therefore, exploitation needs to ensure the harmony of interests between businesses and people, so that local communities can access and benefit from marine and island tourism.

Hon Kho Island is a valuable natural resource, which has long been exploited by local people for community tourism associated with protecting coral, ecosystems and the marine environment. **Photo: Doan Ngoc**

Currently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province has directed relevant units to inspect and re-evaluate tourism management and exploitation activities at Hon Kho island. Collecting entrance fees at tourist attractions is not new, but the price must be appropriate to the infrastructure, accompanying services and have the consensus of the people and tourists.