五年來,我走過歐、亞、澳20多個國家,覺得他們的旅游業(yè)注重社會效益,注重公民素質(zhì)教育,對于景區(qū)的收費方面,則讓人驚嘆不已!
游意大利僅龐貝收費10歐元
意大利擁有眾多的文化遺存和山海之勝,旅游是它的支柱產(chǎn)業(yè),每年入境的外國游客在1000萬人以上。我四次到過意大利,其中最長的一次游了15天。我從北邊的瑞士交界處開始,南下科莫湖、梅達城至米蘭、博洛尼、佛羅倫薩、羅馬,東至列美霞、威尼斯,西至比薩及熱那亞等,所有的景區(qū)都不收費。那風(fēng)光旖旎的科莫湖。大名鼎鼎的歌劇院。佛羅倫薩從古王朝留下來的宏大精美雕塑群、令人刻骨銘心的羅密歐與朱麗葉的故居、著名的比薩斜塔、美輪美奐威尼斯城和古羅馬廢墟及斗獸場等等,雖然游人如蟻,但都不收費。
意大利與歐洲各國普遍認為風(fēng)景名勝古跡屬于國家,屬于公民共有,它的開發(fā)保護經(jīng)費由公共財政投入,使用的是納稅人的錢,因此不應(yīng)再向納稅人額外收費。當(dāng)然,這些部門也需要利潤,它們的利潤主要靠餐飲、住宿、交通以及出賣獨具景區(qū)特色的圖片、明信片、藝術(shù)品、土特產(chǎn)、郵票紀念品以及各種游樂及服務(wù)項目。在比薩斜塔,我們看見許多人排長隊購買微縮的斜塔模型紀念品,其價格按大小、材質(zhì)等分作1、2、5、10等歐元,有的游客一買十幾只,看來僅此一項營業(yè)額也相當(dāng)可觀。開車陪我游覽的意大利友人告訴我:“不賣門票既有利于樹立國家、政府的良好形象、激發(fā)愛國熱情,還有利于廣大青少年擴大游歷,增長見識?!?/p>
這次游遍意大利。我只買過一次門票,那是從玻里南下參觀龐貝古城遺址,票額也出奇的低,僅為10歐元。進門一看,這座古城遺址達6平方公里。為了再現(xiàn)這一遺跡,竟然有5000多文物、園林專家持續(xù)開發(fā)了100多年,現(xiàn)在在這座古城單單從事古跡修復(fù)的就有1000多人,此外還配備了管理員、解說導(dǎo)游員400多人??磥磉@10歐元僅是象征性的補貼而已,何況它還返贈你一張漂亮的紀念性磁卡門票和一大本詳盡的彩色導(dǎo)游畫冊哩!
環(huán)游法國的三處低收費
法國的博物館之多世人皆知,但進門參觀大都不收費,在整個參觀過程中,僅在三處地方買了門票。那天我參觀盧浮宮,雖然付了50法郎的門票,但售票員隨即遞給我一張精美的紀念磁卡,還發(fā)給我一只導(dǎo)游錄音盒和一本彩色導(dǎo)游手冊。導(dǎo)游手冊分幾十種文字印刷,我居然拿到用中文印刷的。我戴上耳機接聽中文導(dǎo)游錄音,按圖索驥,在30萬件展品中如愿以償?shù)赜^賞了絕世珍品維納斯雕像、達·芬奇的油畫《蒙娜麗莎》、古埃及的法老木乃伊以及中國館乾隆皇帝的龍床和伯虎的兩幅仕女圖。當(dāng)我們請管理員給我們在珍品前攝影留念時,他們笑容可掬,十分熱情地幫助我們拍攝。后來我游覽圣·米歇爾島時,登臨了修筑800年的圣·米歇爾修道院,此時他們只象征性地收了我5歐元門票,但停車費則免收。英法戰(zhàn)爭期間為爭奪圣·米歇爾修道院,兩國軍隊竟打了100多年,“登島如讀史”,面對古老宏偉的杰出建筑,面對墻垛累累彈痕,想著法國人抗英的悲壯故事,讓人一步一嘆息,只收5歐元門票真當(dāng)不高。
法國的風(fēng)景名勝屬于全民資源,全民共享,被政府列為國家文化遺產(chǎn)保護名單的各類建筑物或遺跡,在法定的“文化遺產(chǎn)日”都向公眾免費開放。像舉世聞名的盧浮宮、凡爾賽宮等,每個月的第一個星期天,便是免費開放日,特別是對中小學(xué)生更是全年免費開放。
我到了西班牙、荷蘭、比利時、德國、奧地利及北歐諸國,不想情景也大致相同,即便古跡遍地的希臘,雖然有幾處遺址如巴特儂神廟等要收費,但一是收費低,二是老人、孩子免費,三是每年舉辦“文化周”或“假日游”,均一律免費開放,由此,聽說單單美國一年就有300多萬人游希臘,希臘那些遍布愛琴海沿岸的漂亮大酒店、大賓館,“千元一間”,由于旅客多,常常是人滿為患!看來免費敞門,實在是個妙招。
韓國、澳洲景區(qū)大都免費
在韓國旅游有一個體會,那就是“自知身是客”,卻只見笑容未見要錢。這種親和力深深地感染了我們。我們在景色清幽,方圓上百里的濟州島分文未付,即便到了首爾參觀青瓦臺總統(tǒng)府,也照例免費。特別是去看那些仿唐、仿宋建筑和拍攝《大長今》的實地場景,那些負責(zé)人還說:“我們用納稅人付的錢維修了古建筑,所以大家有權(quán)享受?!薄翱晌覀兪峭鈬搜??”我們說?!皝淼亩际强停写響?yīng)該!”旅游負責(zé)人笑著說。
到澳大利亞從東部的布里斯班下機開始,黃金海岸、海洋公園、珊瑚礁,袋鼠博物館、國家公園、政治首都堪培拉、經(jīng)濟首都墨爾本直至著名的悉尼歌劇院一律免費開放,唯獨去最南端參觀企鵝島才收費3澳元(不到20元人民幣)。
最難忘的還數(shù)游梵蒂岡。這是個面積只有0.44平方公里、1000多人的彈丸小國,說它是國不如說它是一座精美絕倫的宏大建筑:圣·馬克廣場立著一溜巨大整齊的大理石柱,柱頂?shù)裼邪僮蜩蛉缟母鞣N天使像;大教堂內(nèi)外的彩色大理石、巨大的落地門窗,光華奪目的教皇皇宮樓都讓你流連忘返,但講著各種語言的游客在兩個入口處排隊進門都一律免費,唯一的限制是衣冠不整者免入。恰巧為我陪游的舍弟穿著短褲,小侄女穿裙子露了膝,而我們一時又買不到長褲,正著急,忽見衣裝嚴整的管理員無償為我們送來一大一小的兩條褲子,于是我們終于順利地不花分文飽覽了整個梵蒂岡,欣賞了這座2000多年的歷史宗教藝術(shù)品!
Zero Charges in European and Australian Parks
By Yun Fei
Over the past five years, I have traveled in more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia and Australia. In these countries tourism is conducted with emphasis placed on social benefits and public education. In most cases, parks are open to the general public and tourists free of charge.
Ten Euros for Pompeii
Tourism is a pillar industry of Italy where tourism attractions abound. The annual inbound tourists amount to 10 million. I have been to Italy four times and my longest visit lasted fifteen days. Except for Pompeii where a guest pays 10 Euros to tour the ruins, no other parks across Italy charge any entrance fees. I am deeply impressed. Just like other European countries, Italy believes that places of scenic beauty and historical and cultural interests are public properties and that they should be maintained with public money. For this reason, these parks charge no fees. Profit comes from tourist souvenirs, postcards, stamps, photographs, local products and services such as hotels, restaurants, transport, etc. I paid 10 Euro to see Pompeii. The charge is just symbolic, for the 6-square-kilometer ruin displays 5,000 strong relics unearthed by archaeologists over a period of 100 years, maintained by 1,000 experts and now serviced by more than 400 guides and park keepers. And for ten Euros, I received a pretty magnetic card as a souvenir and an album of photographs in return.
No fee is charged in Vatican. The only requirement for tourists is that you must dress decently. I know what that means. During our visit, my brother and his daughter were not allowed to enter because my brother wore short pants and my niece wore a skirt that revealed her knees. We were at a loss. A decently dressed attendant came to our rescue. He lent us two pairs of trousers, one for the father and one for the daughter. Decently dressed now, we were able to enter Vatican and see precious artifacts there.
Entrance Fees only for Three Places
France teems with museums and most of them are free for tourists. I paid 50 Euros for a visit to Louvre Museum. In return, I received a pretty card as a souvenir, a guide record player and a guidebook in Chinese. I listened to the Chinese voice which guided me through and I followed the directions in the guidebook and saw the most important exhibits. I paid a symbolic five Euro at Mount Saint-Michel and I parked my car free of charge. In France, buildings and relics on the list for government protection are free on days specified by law. Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles are free of charge on the first Sunday every month. Primary and middle school pupils can visit the two places free of charge all the year round.
No Charge Policy in Other European Countries
Other European countries such as Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Nordic countries also favor the no charge policy. Greek charges tourists only at the most precious places such as the Parthenon. Old people and children enjoy the privilege of zero charge. On the Culture Week and other important holidays, no fees are charged even for tourists. It is said that more than three million Americans visit Greek and that hotel rooms are often more than 1,000 yuan a night. Free visit is really a good idea to promote tourism.
Korea and Australia also Charge No Entrance Fees
In Korea I saw smile wherever I went. No fees are charged for visits to ancient architectures, Jeju Island and the presidential office. In Australia, all the famous places such as the Golden Coast, Sidney Opera House, National Park and charge no entrance fees. The only exception is Penguin Island where only three Australian dollars are symbolically charged.
(Translated by David)