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Cost of official visits puts city in red
By Jane Chen |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
OPERATORS of a UNESCO protected ancient city in north China complain that giving free hospitality to officials from across the country has put the tourist site into the red.
About one in six, or more than 2,000 out of the 12,600 visitors to the walled city of Pingyao, in Shanxi Province's Pingyao County, on Monday and Tuesday were admitted without paying for their tickets, according to officials with the city's management committee.
The city offers free tickets for up to 100,000 official visitors a year, cutting ticket income by 12 million yuan (US$1.76 million).
Other costs in treating the officials to accommodation, transport and gifts have put the city's books into the red, officials said.
The city is already short of 2 billion yuan to renovate more than 400 buildings in Pingyao.
Last year, the city reported ticket sales of 88 million yuan, with 30 percent returned to the ticket offices.
Official visits cost more than 10 million yuan, committee officials disclosed.
An unnamed guide in the ancient city told Chengdu Business News that she served more than 60 visitors on Tuesday morning, none traveling on their own budgets.
There are more than 10 such guides in Pingyao.
"Nearly every government department or company in the Pingyao county gives such treatment to officials," she disclosed.
About one in six, or more than 2,000 out of the 12,600 visitors to the walled city of Pingyao, in Shanxi Province's Pingyao County, on Monday and Tuesday were admitted without paying for their tickets, according to officials with the city's management committee.
The city offers free tickets for up to 100,000 official visitors a year, cutting ticket income by 12 million yuan (US$1.76 million).
Other costs in treating the officials to accommodation, transport and gifts have put the city's books into the red, officials said.
The city is already short of 2 billion yuan to renovate more than 400 buildings in Pingyao.
Last year, the city reported ticket sales of 88 million yuan, with 30 percent returned to the ticket offices.
Official visits cost more than 10 million yuan, committee officials disclosed.
An unnamed guide in the ancient city told Chengdu Business News that she served more than 60 visitors on Tuesday morning, none traveling on their own budgets.
There are more than 10 such guides in Pingyao.
"Nearly every government department or company in the Pingyao county gives such treatment to officials," she disclosed.
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