Temporarily stop adjusting service prices of international passenger ports to Ha Long

Information from the Department of Transport of Quang Ninh province said that the unit has just met with the Department of Finance, the Provincial Department of Tourism , the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, and representatives of related businesses on the proposal to adjust the service price increase through Tuan Chau International Passenger Port and Ha Long International Passenger Port.

Accordingly, the Department of Transport requested the two above-mentioned enterprises to soon organize a meeting to discuss and reach an agreement with the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association and related units. Thereby, it will be the basis for rebuilding the service fee collection plan through the two passenger ports and price declaration documents. The adjustment of the collection level must have a clear, specific reason and basis and a suitable roadmap, avoiding negative impacts on the general socio-economic development situation of the locality.

Ha Long International Passenger Port. Photo: Le Tan

Previously, on February 29, two international ports in Quang Ninh announced that from April 1, passenger tickets through the two ports will increase from VND40,000/person/trip to VND60,000/person/trip. Of which, the elderly will receive a 50% discount, and children from 7 to 15 years old will receive a 20% discount.

For tourist boats, service fees increase by VND50,000/trip; security and public lighting fees increase by VND100,000/boat/month; boat mooring fees increase from VND6,300/ ^m2 of water surface/month to VND9,000/m2 ^of water surface/month.

After the ports increased service prices and passenger tickets, the entrance fee to Ha Long Bay for each passenger will increase from 440,000 to 460,000 VND for route 1 (310,000 VND for entrance ticket, 150,000 VND for boat ticket). For route 2, the ticket price will increase from 490,000 to 510,000 VND (310,000 VND for entrance ticket and 200,000 VND for boat ticket). Of the 310,000 VND for entrance ticket, 60,000 VND is for port fees collected by the ports.

Before the announcement of the two ports, many tourism businesses, especially those operating cruise ships in Quang Ninh province, spoke out against it because they believed that this was a sudden decision, affecting the plans and finances of the businesses as well as the interests of tourists.

The Ha Long Tourist Boat Association has also sent a document proposing principles and roadmap for adjusting prices and service fees in the spirit of companionship, sharing difficulties and benefits of all parties, to the Management Board of the two ports and the authorities.

Source