Is China the most expensive country to visit for Chinese tourists?

According to various reports, the recent price hike for entrance to major tourist sites in China has sparked an outcry, with some travelers taking overseas trips as a cost-control option.

"[The travel entrance fees in China] are very likely the most expensive in the world compared to local salary,” Bao Jigang (保继刚), Dean of the Tourism College in Zhongshan University, told state-run International Finance News (website in simplified Chinese only).

China’s average per capita salary in 2011 was RMB 2,000 (US$317), according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, and most of China’s highest-ranked attractions won’t let you past the gate for less than RMB 100 (US$16).

As Chinese netizens pointed out, it’s cheaper for a group of four to visit Yellowstone National Park on foot on a week pass (US$12 per head) or three to visit the Taj Mahal (US$14 per ticket) than for one person to set foot in Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟), a national park in Sichuan Province (RMB 310 or US$49 per person in high season).

Bao noted that prices are high in favor of commercial gain, even though they belong to the public.

Professor Lou Jiajun (楼嘉军) from East Normal University said China’s travel industry has yet to mature, and admissions account for more than 80 percent of the income of Chinese tourist spots.

Additionally, unlike outbound travelers, domestic travelers do not spend an arm and a leg on dining and souvenir shopping, which is why tourist spots are keen to rely on entry fees to profit, said Lou.

Tourist spots in China are required by the central government to maintain a minimum three-year interval between price increases, and host public hearings before doing so.

"For family trips, admissions will take up an even higher percentage," a Guangzhou surnamed Luo told Nanfang Daily. "If a family of three travels in China, entry fees usually cost RMB 1,500-RMB 2,000 (US$238-317)," Luo continued.

And nearly 90 percent netizens claimed that “expensive entrance has seriously dampened [their] passion to travel in China” in a previous Internet poll.

"That’s why Chinese [choose to] travel overseas whenever there is a holiday,” netizen "san sui le" (3岁了) posted on Weibo.

"[Outbound trips] are indeed cheaper than domestic ones. A group trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand costs RMB 3,600, a visit to Hainan costs RMB 3,800, and [visitors] will likely to be conned by tourist traps in [Hainan].”