Local tourist authorities have no excuse for ignoring the complaints about the exorbitant ticket prices of tourist attractions. They should realize the soaring number of visitors does not indicate people are satisfied with their traveling experiences and the service they receive.

According to the statistics disclosed by nine provinces so far, the number of tourists during the Qingming holiday from Apr 2 to 4 soared by about 20 percent year-on-year together with the revenue they generated. But this rise in numbers and income was accompanied by widespread criticism of the increased ticket prices for some tourist attractions.

Local governments have the ticket pricing rights for tourist attractions. Yet, that does not mean they are entitled to constantly increase ticket prices without consulting the public.