Scholars Suggest Charging NT$30 to NT$200 Per Person for National Park Access

Academics are proposing a tiered fee system for Taiwan's national parks, suggesting charges between NT$30 and NT$200 per person, depending on the area's usage and environmental sensitivity. This approach, drawing parallels with existing tourism zone fees, aims to bolster funding for ecological research and conservation.

“

The National Park Park area is vast, and the charging standard should be different for different places. The past tourism development regulations also charged tourism conservation fees for areas such as tourist areas, special scenic areas, and natural and cultural landscape areas, based on the annual number of tourists, setting the charging standards from 30 yuan to 200 yuan. The more people there are, the higher the damage, and the higher the conservation intensity.

Huang Cheng-tsung, an associate professor at Pingtung University of Science and Technology's Department of Forestry, advocates for differentiated pricing based on factors like visitor numbers and the degree of environmental impact. He points to the precedent set by the tourism development regulations, which already categorize areas and apply varying conservation fees.

Wu Hsing-ju, an assistant professor at Pingtung University of Science and Technology's Department of Forestry, believes Taiwan should have implemented national park fees long ago, citing international practices. She stresses the importance of clear communication from park management regarding the use of funds, such as enhancing visitor safety or contributing to wildlife conservation, to gain public acceptance. She also suggests allocating a portion of the fund for research purposes.

“

It is very normal for national parks abroad to charge fees, and Taiwan should have done so long ago. However, each national park management office should clearly explain the purpose of the fees, such as increasing tourist safety or contributing to wildlife conservation, to increase public acceptance. Some funds can even be used for research funding to achieve the purpose of national parks protecting nature.

Mountain organizations generally support the "user pays" principle but caution that implementation must be transparent and well-managed. Luo Hong-an, secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Mountain Association, highlighted potential issues like duplicate charges (e.g., entry fees and hut fees) and disparities between domestic and foreign visitors. He urged for clarity on fund management, resource allocation between trail maintenance and ecological surveys, and the establishment of a clear supervision mechanism before any fees are implemented.

“

We strongly agree with the user pays principle, but the relevant details must be done well. The association reminds that there are issues such as duplicate charges for entrance fees and mountain house fees ('double peeling'), differences between foreigners and locals, principles of fund management and use, and how each business resource is allocated, such as the proportion of trail maintenance and ecological investigation, which must be clear and transparent.