Fees for visiting relics and scenic spots... in Nghe An have not been implemented yet.

(Baonghean.vn) - Collecting entrance fees to historical sites, scenic spots, museums and cultural works has been implemented in many localities across the country. However, in Nghe An, there are still many issues to discuss regarding this issue.

» Will there be a fee to visit relics, scenic spots, and museums in Nghe An?

Meeting scene. Photo: Phuoc Anh

Premise for financial autonomy roadmap

“The draft Resolution regulating fees for visiting historical sites, scenic spots, museums and cultural works in Nghe An province is based on the Law on Organization of Local Government, the Law on Fees and Charges... I think we have to follow the law. If the law stipulates collection, we have to collect!” - Mr. Ho Mau Thanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports opened the meeting.

The head of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports analyzed very carefully the purpose of fee collection. The purpose of fee collection is to more effectively manage and control fee-based activities within the framework of the law; implement the policy of socialization, mobilize contributions from the social community to develop career activities, gradually reduce subsidies from the state budget for public service activities. In addition, fee collection aims to supplement funds for preservation, restoration, and repair activities at relics, cultural works, and museums.

The Department of Culture and Sports plans to list 13 relics, scenic spots, museums, and cultural works that can collect fees: Kim Lien relic site, Truong Bon relic site, Quang Trung Temple and Quyet Mountain Forest Park, Hoang Muoi Temple, Con Temple, Qua Son Temple, Duc Hoang Temple, Cuong Temple, Khe Kem Waterfall, Che Island and Cau Cau Dam, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Museum, Nghe An Museum, and Quy Chau District Ethnic Culture Museum.

Mr. Ho Mau Thanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports spoke at the meeting. Photo: Phuoc Anh

According to the estimated visitor fee, if the fee is collected, Truong Bon Relic (Do Luong) can collect more than 1.1 billion VND; Hong Son Temple (Vinh City) and Con Temple (Hoang Mai Town) can collect more than 1.3 billion VND; Quang Trung Temple (Vinh City) can collect 950 million VND...

The Director of the Department of Culture and Sports emphasized that this is a large source of revenue, creating a premise for the roadmap to financial autonomy of public service activities.

Further considerations on monument fees

This is the opinion of representatives of some departments, agencies and branches at the meeting. The representative of the Provincial People's Committee Office said that collecting fees for scenic spots, museums and cultural works is reasonable, but collecting fees at relics needs further consideration. "Relics are closely associated with the spiritual life of the people, if we start collecting fees now, will it cause public opinion among the people? We need to re-evaluate the feasibility before deciding to collect fees at relics."

Agreeing with this opinion, Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department said that it is necessary to change the fee collection content, instead of collecting entrance fees, it is more flexible to switch to service fees. If collecting entrance fees, it may not be suitable for some relics such as Kim Lien Relic Site (Nam Dan).

“Some spiritual relics were built by local people for a long time, and people come to offer incense and offerings every month and every year, not to visit. How can we determine whether they are local people or tourists to collect the right amount?” - Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh said.

Tourists visit Truong Bon relic site. Photo: Archive

Many opinions are concerned about the issue of collection management. According to the draft Resolution, the collection, payment, management and use of fees are divided into 2 groups: Units collecting fees for visiting relics are allowed to retain 80% of the total collected fees to cover the costs of providing services, the remaining 20% ​​is paid to the state budget; Units collecting fees for visiting scenic spots, museums and cultural works are allowed to retain 90% of the total collected fees to cover the costs of providing services, the remaining 10% is paid to the state budget.

Representatives of the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice raised the issue: “When drafting this Resolution, the Department of Culture and Sports must clarify where the 80% and 90% left for the above-mentioned units will be spent? The collection level and the retention rate must be based on the practical conditions of each relic, scenic spot, museum, and cultural work.”

A representative of the Department of Tourism gave another perspective: “Regarding the collection level, according to the opinions of some travel agencies, 20,000 VND/domestic tourist is too high. In the Resolution, it is necessary to clearly state what benefits tourists will enjoy when paying the entrance fee, such as explanations, ceremonies... If it is not clearly stated, it may be understood that this is just an entrance fee.”

In response to the diverse opinions of representatives of departments, agencies and sectors, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong requested the Department of Culture and Sports to fully absorb and synthesize opinions to complete the draft Resolution in accordance with reality. In the immediate future, the collection of fees for visiting relics, scenic spots, museums and cultural works in the province has not been implemented./.

Phuoc Anh