2011 TEM8 writing sample

Part VI. Writing

Sample paper

Charging Higher Fees is Reasonable

During every peak travel season, the high fees charged by famous Chinese historical sites stir the heated discussion among the public. Some people think charging higher fees is a way of robbing tourists. I cannot agree with them because I hold that charging higher fees is reasonable because higher fees enable the historical sites to protect the historical relics, ensure the financial stability, and provide satisfactory service.

First of all, charging higher fees will help to protect the historical relics. To be more specific, higher fees can assure that the historical relics are under perfect protection by the staff and the preservation technology which require a lot of money. During the peak travel seasons, the historical sites are filled

with curious tourists. More human activities will speed up the destruction of historical relics, as the examples of Great Wall and pyramids show us. Preservation of historical sites require more money to avoid the negative impact from crowded tourists. Charging higher fees is a way to avoid and compensate from the destruction of historical relics by the increasing tourists.

Second, charging higher fees ensures the financial stability and prosperity of historical sites. In China, famous historical sites are situated in small towns and countryside. The local governments tend to earn money from the tickets and support the historical sites to open to public. Meanwhile, peak travel seasons exists with seasons with few tourists. To charge higher fees during peak travel seasons is reasonable according to the economic fact that when more people buy one good or service, the price tend to rise. If it is

not for peak travel reasons, the historical site are impossible to maintain the financial stability and open to public.

Last but not least, charging higher fees helps to provide satisfactory service. In China, peak travel seasons are also those seasons when Chinese enjoy their legal holidays, such as Spring Festival, the Labour Day and the National Day. During these season, people put down their works and studies to go on a trip. And it is the same case with the staff in the historical sites. The staff working there are the basic element of good service. If they give up their leisure and provide service for the tourists, they are reasonable to be paid more. China labor law sets the regulation that people working on holidays can get salaries three times as working days. To provide satisfactory service, the staff working in the historical sites shall be paid more and charging higher fees can ensure that they are working with