Draft targets inflated ticket prices

The latest version of a draft tourism law delivered to lawmakers on Tuesday seeks to end inflated prices at scenic sites.

The draft requires authorities to strictly control ticket prices at scenic spots in public areas.

These areas, the draft said, should hold hearings before raising ticket prices to solicit opinions from tourists and business owners on whether charging for tickets is necessary and reasonable.

The proposal was delivered in the wake of a high-profile dispute over ticket prices in Fenghuang, Hunan province. The historic town introduced an admission price of 148 yuan ($24) for tourists this month.

The initiative by the local government, claiming the measure was to control tourist numbers and protect and upgrade key sites, sparked a great deal of controversy.