Hoi An to collect entry fees from visitors to fund conservation

The fees are VND120,000 (US$5.11) for foreigners and VND80,000 ($3.41) for Vietnamese, according to the town administration.

Nguyen Van Son, its chairman, said the money from the fees would be used to improve infrastructure, restore downgraded relics and organize tourism events.

It is not known for how long the town plans to collect the fee.

Now entry tickets are only required at some historical relics and tourist sites.

Hoi An, famous for its centuries-old houses and Chinese-influenced temples, was recognized as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in 1998.

Since then it has been one of the country’s top tourist attractions.

Many tourist destinations around the world plan to collect similar fees in 2023 to improve the quality of tourism services.

All foreign tourists entering Thailand will have to pay a fee of 300 baht ($12) from June while Venice in Italy plans to charge tourists €3-10 ($3.23-10.77) from this summer.

By November the EU will begin collecting a fee.