Hon Mun Reserve to raise entrance fees to support sea environment protection

As from January 1, 2014, Hon Mun Reserve entrance fees will see an increase, which is necessary to raise funds for a better sea environment protection.
Accordingly, visitors to Hon Mun Reserve will be charged VND20,000/adult instead of VND10,000 like before. Children from 6 to 16 will be charged VND10,000 each. There’s no admission charge for children under 6. The fee for swimming and diving will be put up to VND60,000/time from VND40,000. Old people and disable people are given 50% discount. All the above fees don’t include services of glass bottom boat as well as swimming and diving equipment.
According to Head of Nha Trang Bay Management Board Truong Kinh, preserving the natural beauty of Hon Mun Reserve needs about VND4 billion each year but only VND1.8 billion has been earned each year from the current entrance fees. When the new fees are applied, the figure is estimated to increase to about VND3 billion. It is expect to help the sea ecosystem preservation in Hon Mun better.
Tourist businesses also express agreement with the increase in entrance fees to Hon Mun. “The increase may cause some difficulties to us but it’s necessary to maintain the good preservation in Hon Mun. Then, tourists will still satisfy with Hon Mun despite the price increase”, said representative of Vietnam Diving Center under Vietravel Nha Trang.
“Hon Mun is very attractive to tourists when traveling to Nha Trang thanks to its fantastic nature. The increased fees are not too high for tourists to contemplate such a beautiful island. It’s not too big problem”, said Nguyen Quang Tan, a boat owner, who carries tourists to Hon Mun every day.
Hon Mun has great ecological diversification with regards to coral reefs which visitors can see with their eyes by scuba diving or from glass-bottom boat. That’s why the island attracts a large number of visitors each year. It’s possible to say that increasing entrance fees of Hon Mun Reserve is reasonable, supporting protection of the islands’ natural values.