Tourists could be charged for overnight stays at Vietnam’s Dong Van Karst Plateau

The provincial administration is seeking public feedback on the proposal.

Under the plan, both domestic and international visitors staying overnight within the geopark would be subject to the fee.

Of the revenue collected, 60 percent would go to the state budget to fund heritage conservation and sustainable development, while the remaining 40 percent would be allocated to communes within the geopark.

Hoang Xuan Don, head of the geopark’s management board, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that visitors would likely pay the fee through their accommodation providers.

He said provincial authorities were still working out the collection mechanism, with public service units under commune-level administrations expected to handle the payments.

The proposal comes as tourism continues to grow in the region, placing increasing pressure on local infrastructure and conservation resources.

Between 2021 and 2025, tourist arrivals and tourism revenue within the geopark grew by an average of 15-20 percent annually, outpacing the province-wide average of around 10 percent.

In 2025 alone, the geopark welcomed approximately 2.3 million visitors, accounting for 60 percent of Tuyen Quang’s total tourist arrivals.

Meanwhile, local authorities spend around VND100 billion ($3.87 million) annually on geopark-related activities, including heritage preservation, environmental protection, road construction, parking facilities, waste management, and tourism infrastructure maintenance.

Experts from the Global Geoparks Network have recommended introducing visitor fees and moving toward financial self-sufficiency since 2011.

Guy Martini, a senior expert and executive board member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, supported the proposed fee, saying revenue should be used for conservation, education, management, and sustainable local development.

He stressed the need for transparent financial management and tangible benefits for local communities.

Associate Professor Tran Tan Van, former director of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, said the fee should have been introduced earlier.

He considered the proposed VND30,000 ($1.16) rate relatively low and suggested it could be gradually increased, noting that current funding remains insufficient for infrastructure maintenance, environmental protection, and disaster recovery.

In 2023, the People’s Council of the former Ha Giang Province approved a resolution on fees for tourists staying overnight at Dong Van Karst Plateau, but the move drew mixed reactions.