Quang Nam Group guests will have to buy tickets right from the parking lot outside the old town, then use the shuttle bus.
From May 15, Hoi An will strengthen control of tickets to visit the ancient town. The city will focus on tourists traveling in groups, those who do not buy tickets will not be allowed to enter.
Regarding measures to implement this plan, Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of the city, said that group tourists often travel by car with 15 seats or more. They are identified as groups of tourists from travel companies, with tour guides and flags. For a long time, the city has banned cars with 15 seats from entering the center. Cars must park at two stations outside, more than 1 km from the center.
When the group gets off, the reception staff sells tickets here. Then the shuttle bus takes the guests to places near the old town, accompanied by a tour guide. They are taken to the town via main roads, not through alleys or lanes.
A group of tourists visit Hoi An ancient town on the afternoon of May 11. Photo: Dac Thanh
Regarding the fact that group visitors buy tickets, individual visitors or family groups are not required, many people think that it is unfair because the law should be applied to everyone. Explaining this, the Chairman of Hoi An City said that the old town is an open urban area, with many paths, so the focus is only on controlling visitors on tours and routes. If they organize tours, they must join hands with Hoi An in restoring the heritage.
"For individual customers, we only invite them to buy, not force them. If we do it firmly, the community will react. In fact, we have recently received many opinions about the plan that all tourists must buy tickets," Mr. Son said, adding that their reaction is reasonable, because it is difficult to distinguish between tourists and business people.
According to Mr. Son, the difficulty of Hoi An is that there are too many entrances, so selling a ticket is "very difficult and expensive" compared to other heritage sites, and without selling tickets, there is no money to invest in heritage restoration.
Cu Lao Cham or Ha Long Bay, all tourists are transported by boat so they are forced to buy tickets. Hoi An has many routes, so it is very difficult to sell tickets absolutely. "Hoi An does not organize 100% of customers to buy tickets like other places. Previously, only 40% of customers bought tickets, now implementing this plan, I hope to have 60-70% of customers buy," said Mr. Son.
Tourists come to the ticket counter to visit Hoi An ancient town. Photo: Dac Thanh
"The city focuses on controlling group guests, but individual guests cannot be controlled. If there are any changes, problems, or adjustments during the implementation process, they will be handled and resolved," he added.
During the implementation process, Hoi An arranged for police, urban regulations staff and city cultural center inspectors to handle violations. Minh An and Cam Pho ward authorities arranged forces at alleys and lanes leading to the old town to support and guide tourists on the right route during their visit.
Previously on April 3, Hoi An city announced that it was implementing a plan to strengthen the management of tour guide activities in the ancient town, including selling tickets to all tourists and dividing traffic. The expected time of application is from May 15, ticket sales time is from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily in the summer and 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the winter.
This announcement was met with much opposition. On the afternoon of May 11, Hoi An held a press conference and announced a plan to control visitors traveling in groups. Anyone who does not buy a ticket will not be allowed to enter the old town, effective from May 15. Individual visitors, family visitors, and those who come to dine, drink coffee, or take wedding photos do not have to buy a ticket.
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