Entry fee to ASI monuments lowered

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 21. The Ministry of Culture has decided to lower the entry fee to various Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments for non-Indian passport holders. For heritage monuments, it is reduced from $ 10 to $ 5 per person and non- heritage monuments from $ 5 to $ 2 per person. The rates will be effective from October 1.

The decision was taken by the Ministry in the wake of criticism by the tourism industry of the sudden steep hike in entry fees last year. As the total cost for visiting heritage monuments was disproportionately high compared to the boarding/lodging/travelling costs, tourists do not include it in their itinerary. There were also reports of malpractices due to high cost of tickets and the high differential between the cost for Indian and foreign tourists.

The decision will also rationalise the payment structure. Foreign tourists can now pay in Indian currency at a flat rate of Rs. 250 for heritage and Rs. 100 per person for non- heritage monuments.

The ASI-maintained monuments will soon install automatic ticket checking/punching machines at entry points to facilitate faster tourist clearance and do away with malpractices.

The tourism industry has welcomed the decision of the Government and called it a ``tourism friendly'' gesture of the new Culture Minister, Ms. Menaka Gandhi.

After a series of discussions backed by figures of tour cancellations received from foreign tour operators, Ms. Menaka Gandhi ordered rationalisation of fees.

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Section  : National
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