Nghe An has not yet charged visitors to relic sites.

On the afternoon of August 20, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to listen to and comment on 3 draft Resolutions of the Provincial People's Council, including: Resolution on collecting fees for visiting relics, museums and cultural works; Resolution on policies and mechanisms to support cultural titles in the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" in Nghe An province; Resolution on policies to support the construction of a number of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level in the area.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting, attended by Comrade Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture & Sports, representatives of relevant departments, branches and sectors.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Thanh Nga

No fee for visitors to monuments and scenic spots

The draft on regulations for visiting relics and museums in the province clearly states: Collecting fees for visiting relics, scenic spots, museums and cultural works is implemented according to the provisions of the Law on Fees and Charges; contributing to establishing a unified fee policy system, creating a legal basis for implementing fee policies in the province.

For relics and museums, the collection of fees is to offset the costs of collecting, managing and using the source of visiting fees at the unit; supplement funds for regular activities and the work of preserving, restoring and repairing relics and museums, contributing to further improving the quality of services for visitors.

King Quang Trung Temple attracts many tourists. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

However, at the meeting, many opinions said that the proposal to collect fees at the present time is not appropriate, many famous historical sites, especially museums, have very few visitors. "The question is whether there are many visitors, and if charging fees to local people who come to burn incense every month, is it appropriate to collect entrance fees?", said a representative of the Department of Justice.

Some people think that we should manage donations and not consider collecting fees.

Comrade Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports explained the comments at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Nga

After listening to opinions, the Director of the Department of Culture and Sports proposed to stop issuing resolutions on collecting fees for visitors to cultural relics.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long affirmed that issuing a resolution on fee collection at this time is not appropriate, and departments and branches need to continue researching to propose fee levels, collection subjects, mechanisms and implementation apparatus at a more appropriate time.

The number of cultural families needs to be more than 4 families/residential area/year.

The Resolution on supporting the awarding of cultural titles in the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life" stipulates 3 policies.

With the Cultural Family policy for 3 consecutive years with outstanding achievements in the movement "All people unite to build a cultural life", the Certificate of Merit of the People's Committee at the commune level will be awarded with a bonus of 200,000 VND; maximum number of 4 outstanding Cultural Families/residential area/year.

For "Cultural standard agencies", "Cultural standard units", "Cultural standard enterprises" recognized for the first time by the District People's Committee, there will be a bonus of VND 2,000,000; recognized again by the Provincial People's Committee, there will be a bonus of VND 3,000,000.

Volleyball exchange in Nghi Lam commune (Nghi Loc). Photo archive

For communes that meet the standards of "new rural culture" and "Wards that meet urban civilization standards" recognized by the District People's Committee, there is a bonus of 20,000,000 VND/commune.

Regarding this content, the majority of delegates agreed with the policies. However, regarding the "Cultural Family" policy, many opinions said that this policy only stipulates that each hamlet has only 4 cultural families/year, which is too little in the current context of merging hamlets and communes.

For businesses recognized as cultural units, we also need to have appropriate bonuses for units that achieve this title for the first time.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long concluded the adoption of the resolutions. Photo: Thanh Nga

Concluding this content, comrade Bui Dinh Long said that it is necessary to have specific criteria for the title of Cultural Family and at the same time, the number of cultural families should be increased to more than 4 families. Other items require the Department of Culture & Sports to coordinate with the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance to unify the content and criteria to complete and advise the Provincial People's Committee in September 2020.

Prioritize investment in cultural institutions for particularly disadvantaged communes.

Regarding the Resolution on the policy to support the construction of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level in the area until 2030. This policy stipulates the mechanism for investment in construction and purchase of facilities; Support funding for cultural and sports activities for communes in region III and communes in Nam Dan district; Balance the provincial budget to pay monthly remuneration for cultural and sports collaborators and families in villages, blocks and hamlets.

With the goal of supporting localities in building and developing a system of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level with synchronous facilities and equipment, in order to meet the needs of creative enjoyment of culture and sports between regions; Supporting communes with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions and communes and towns of Nam Dan district in organizing and improving the quality and effectiveness of cultural activities; in order to promote the effectiveness of cultural and sports institutions in residential areas.

Model road of New Rural Area in Sen 3 hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan. Photo: Nguyen Hai

In this resolution, the majority of delegates agreed with the regulations supporting investment in cultural institutions, however, many delegates said that investment should be made in each commune to gradually perfect new institutions to achieve effectiveness.

Many opinions suggest that it is necessary to reduce the number of stadiums in the general institution, comrade Tran Thi My Hanh said that it is a category in the construction of new rural areas because there is a reality that many places have excess cultural institutions but are lacking. "By 2025, with the determination of 82% of communes achieving New Rural Area, we need to strive to complete the categories in the criteria of cultural institutions in accordance with the regulations of the national target program." said the Director of the Department of Culture & Sports.

Regarding this resolution, comrade Bui Dinh Long said that the Cultural Sector needs to review the cultural institutions of hamlets and communes to divide investment into stages, based on priority principles such as communes reaching the New Rural Area target, communes with special difficulties, communes in coastal areas... At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to minimizing the maximum budget for each item.