Speaking to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, Mr. Tran Van Hong, Head of the Ha Long Tourism Boat Association, said on March 7, the Ha Long Tourism Boat Association and boat owners had a working session with representatives of the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and Ha Long International Passenger Port regarding the sudden increase in fees and charges at both ports, including some services increasing by more than 30%, which will not only affect businesses but also destinations.
Tourists disembarked from a boat to visit the bay at Ha Long International Passenger Port. Illustrative image
According to the announcement of the management units of the two ports, passenger tickets at both ports have increased from VND 40,000/person/round to VND 60,000/person/round.
Depending on the type of boat, if it is a sightseeing boat with a contract to pick up and drop off passengers at the port, the service charge must be paid per trip will increase by about VND 50,000.
A tourism boat owner said that under the current contract with the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port, the company’s boats must pay a service fee to the port of VND 100,000/trip, but from April 1, they will have to pay VND 150,000/trip.
Along with that, security and public lighting fees will increase from VND 150,000 to VND 200,000/boat/month.
Especially, mooring fees for boats will increase from VND 6,300/m2 of water surface/month to VND 9,000/m2/month. With this fee, at the announced increase, according to boat owners, on average, each boat will have to pay an additional VND 500,000 to over VND 1 million/month.
According to the Ha Long Tourism Boat Association, with the new price list announced by Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and Ha Long International Passenger Port, the total fees and services of a boat will have to be paid from April 1 will be higher than the current level by a few million đồng/month.
Tourists disembarked from a boat to visit the bay at Ha Long International Passenger Port
According to Mr. Tran Van Hong, Head of the Ha Long Tourism Boat Association, this burden will weigh on businesses and boat owners, however, boat owners are not sure if they dare to increase ticket prices and tour prices for tourists because if they increase, it will be difficult to compete with other tourist destinations, especially in Lan Ha Bay and Cat Ba (Hai Phong City).
A boat owner complained that both the Tuần Châu International Passenger Port and Ha Long International Passenger Port had issued price increase announcements at the end of February 2024 and applied them immediately from April 1, while many international tourists had signed tour contracts a year in advance, so unexpected adjustments would cause difficulties and losses for businesses.
“We often sign comprehensive tour contracts with travel agencies from September every year. Just talking about tickets through the port for visitors increasing from VND 40,000/person to VND 60,000/person, we have already incurred a loss of VND 20,000/person, while we have signed contracts with thousands of tourists,” the boat owner said.
Representatives of the Ha Long Tourism Boat Association said they would send a written proposal to the management representatives of the two ports, in which they will propose principles and a roadmap for adjusting prices and port service fees on the spirit of companionship, sharing difficulties, and the interests of all parties, ensuring fairness and acceptance by customers.
