Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
Nowadays, people have to pay entrance fees for visiting some of the museums. A lobby believes that this practice has umpteen benefits, while others disagree. This essay shall elucidate both the viewpoints and try to come to a conclusion.
The most prominent benefit afforded by charging access fees is that it helps generate revenue that can be used for the maintenance and upkeep of museums, thereby reducing the government expenditure on such facilities, and indirectly benefiting the taxpayers by keeping the tax burden low. It further aids in attracting only serious connoisseurs who are keenly interested in what these places have to offer and who appreciate the value and significance of the artifacts displayed there. It also acts as a deterrent for unruly elements by preventing them from entering the premises and using it for various nefarious activities. This has been corroborated by a recent survey where the paid museums consistently ranked above free museums in terms of cleanliness and safety due to absence of crimes like pickpocketing, making it prudent for authorities to levy entry fees.
On the contrary, the critics argue that such policies dissuade curious youngsters, due to the prohibitive costs involved, from learning about the culturally and historically significant events one can glean on museum tours. It also prevents the local schools from arranging the field trips, denying the students the opportunity to expand on the knowledge gained from their curriculum. Thus, a large portion of the population is deprived of opportunities to become familiar with nostalgia, defeating the purpose for these institutions
Overall, even though there are certain pitfalls of imposing entry charges, I believe the benefits eclipse them overwhelmingly, and the former can be easily overcome by providing discounts to the target groups.
