HẠ LONG — Price of some tourism services at the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Hạ Long Bay will increase from next month.

From April 1, the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and the Hạ Long International Passenger Port in Quảng Ninh Province will increase prices of various services, including tickets for visitors and docking fees for boats.

Head of the Association of Hạ Long Tourism Boats Trần Văn Hồng said that on March 3, the association, together with boats’ owners, had a meeting with representatives of the two ports regarding the price increase.

An aerial view of the Tuần Châu Port. — Photo baoquangninh.vn

According to him, several services and fees at these two ports have risen significantly, some services seeing a rise of over 30 per cent.

“This not only will impact our businesses but also affect the destination,” he said.

According to the announcements made by the management boards of both ports, the passenger entrance fees have increased from VNĐ40,000 to VNĐ60,000 per person per one way.

Depending on the type of boats, for tourist sightseeing boats with contracts for passenger pick-up and drop-off at the ports, the service fees per trip have increased by approximately VNĐ50,000.

A tour boat owner said that under his current contract with the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port, his company has been required to pay a service fee of VNĐ100,000 per trip. However, starting from April 1, his company will have to pay VNĐ150,000.

Additionally, the fees for security and public lighting have increased from VNĐ150,000 to VNĐ200,000 per boat per month.

In particular, the boat docking fees have increased from VNĐ6,300 to VNĐ9,000 per square metre of water surface per month. With this announced increase, each boat will have to pay an additional amount ranging from approximately VNĐ500,000 to over VNĐ1 million per month.

Tourists get on boats at the Tuần Châu Port. — Photo baoquangninh.vn

Therefore, with the new price announced recently by the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and the Hạ Long International Passenger Port, from April 1, the monthly fee and service for a boat will be several million đồng higher than the current rates.

Head of the Association of Hạ Long Tourism Boats Hồng said that the price increasing will create a burden for travel companies and boat owners. “However, they are not willing to increase ticket prices or tour prices because it may affect to their competitiveness with other tourist destinations in the region, especially in the neighbouring Lan Hạ Bay in Cát Bà, Hải Phòng City,” he said.

The association will send a petition letter to the ports to propose a roadmap for adjusting prices and service fees, with the spirit of cooperation and sharing the difficulties and benefits of all parties, ensuring equity for customers. — VNS