The introduction of an entry fee for an ancient scenic town in Hunan province has led to a sharp decline in tourists, and Chinese Internet users say the policy discourages visitors.

"We have begun to witness the impact of the new policy," a female employee at March Inn in Fenghuang county, which is well known for its historical and scenic attractions, said on Sunday. She declined to give her name.

"All the rooms in my hostel were usually booked up during weekends in the past, but this weekend we have seen a sharp drop in guests and reservation. There are far fewer tourists on the streets than before."

According to an online poll by Sina, one of China's most popular news websites, nearly 93 percent of respondents said they will not go to Fenghuang because of the charge. The poll had drawn nearly 90,000 participants by late Sunday.

Six percent said they do not care about the policy since they are not interested in visiting Fenghuang.Only 1 percent said they will go to the ancient town regardless of the cost.

Tourism is Fenghuang'a main industry. According to the county government, Fenghuang received around 2.3 million travelers and earned 5.3 billion yuan ($856 million) in tourism revenue last year. The industry provided more than 20,000 jobs, and about 60,000 people make a living by serving tourists.

To "regulate the tourism market", the county issued a ticket policy on Wednesday that stipulates tourists must pay an entrance fee of 148 yuan to visit the old town of Fenghuang, which includes admission to 10 scenic areas.

Entry to the town used to be free but tourists had to buy tickets for each scenic spot they visited.The measure has sparked a backlash from businesses and tourists.

Concerned business owners staged a protest on Thursday, blocking access to tourist sites and requesting authorities adjust the charge policy.

The crowd was later dispersed by law enforcement officers, and four people involved in a physical conflict with officers were taken away by police, Cai Long, deputy head of the county government, said on Saturday.

He said the policy was introduced to regulate the tourism market and will help to protect the old town and benefit business in the long run.

Meanwhile, Zhao Haifeng, executive deputy head of Fenghuang county, said the government is aware of the policy's effect on small businesses and will take measures to assist them.

However, business owners remain skeptical toward the policy and its possible consequences.

【新闻快讯】

14日上午凤凰古城里多家商铺关门，北门码头围满了人抗议古城收费。对此，凤凰县有关部门给出了两点回应：一是“一票制”比原先分景点购票更省钱；二是对于商家的抗议，相关部门正召开紧急会议处理。

4月10日，被誉为“中国最美小城”的湖南湘西土家族苗族自治州凤凰古城正式启动“整合收费”，将原来免费的古城景区和南华山神风景区合二为一，向游客收取148元的门票。13日14日是凤凰古城收费的首个周末，相比以前，散客人数明显减少，多家客栈入住率为零，使包括客栈老板、农家船夫在内的相关群体怨声不断。

家住凤凰古城景区内的黄田，12日本想带女友回家见父母，却被挡在凤凰古城西门检票口。“太尴尬了，太没有面子了！”黄田报怨说。这位青年的感情被深深伤害了。

针对古城收费的举措，有网友发起抵制行动。认证微博袁裕来律师倡议“五一” 假期不去凤凰旅游，引近10万网友转发。尽管眼下为旅游旺季，又逢周末，但凤凰不少旅店的住宿率为零，沱江下游的百余条游船停摆，这在以往几乎不可能出现。在凤凰做旅游接待工作的白先生无奈地表示，街面上卖土特产的小商贩13日一天才卖了18块钱的东西。

观察者表示，旅游业的发展，首要要考虑的应该是如何满足游客的需求，其次是如何带动景区消费的增长。相反，单纯依靠行政力强收门票，无疑有违按照市场规律办事的原则。在诸如此类的“门票新政”推行过程中，谁都不会是赢家。强制消费之下，游客选择权被剥夺，商家利益被绑架，很可能加剧人们对景区旅游的厌恶感，使景区的发展陷入到恶性循环之中。