Slender West Lake, the only 5A-level scenic spot in Yangzhou, attracts many visitors with its beautiful scenery. [Photo/xhby.net]
Yangzhou announced on March 29 that it would lower ticket prices of local scenic spots, aiming to attract more tourists.
Slender West Lake, the only national 5A-level tourist zone in Yangzhou, aroused the most public interest, as the tourist destination has long been widely known, to some degree, for its "notoriously high" entrance fees.
The local government announced that the entrance fee for Slender West Lake will be lowered to 100 yuan ($16) during peak season (March to May, September to November), 60 yuan during slack season (February, June to August), and 30 yuan in December and January.
Moreover, Slender West Lake will provide free entry to all students from primary school to college every July and August, which is in line with their summer holidays.
Actually, this is not the first time that the Yangzhou government has decided to lower the ticket prices of local scenic spots to attract visitors.
The government implemented a similar policy last year that lowered the peak season ticket price of Slender West Lake to 90 yuan from Monday to Thursday, while remaining at its standard price from Friday to Sunday.
The updated preferential policy shows Yangzhou's confidence and determination in transforming its tourism industry from a price-centered mode to an industrial economy-driven mode. An industry insider also praised Yangzhou's lowered ticket prices because they will attract more visitors and hence boost the development of related industries such as catering, accommodation and shopping.