A report released by the Yilan County Government shows that the profitability of the Lanyang Museum’s self-liquidating assets is shrinking annually and eating into the county government’s funding, the Yilan County Government Audit Office said.
The museum’s income of NT$40 million (US$1.21 million) accounted for 39.66 percent of the county’s annual income of NT$101 million, a decrease of 8.3 percentage points from the 47.96 percent in 2013, the report showed.
The museum recorded 260,000 visitors in 2011, but the number of visitors dropped to 100,000 last year, the audit office said, adding that the museum’s move to offer “special sales” on tickets had been ineffective.
The museum should consider more effective management policies, the implementation of standard courses and step up its cooperation with travel agencies to increase sources of potential income, the office said, adding that the county government should also consider the establishment of oversight mechanisms to manage debt.
The museum said it began depreciating and amortizing its assets in 2013 and interest on its long-term loans had peaked last year, leading to a decrease in self-liquidating capabilities.
The museum offers free entry to Yilan County residents, children, honorary volunteer workers and handicapped people.
As of July this year it has also offered free admission to Yilan County students, the museum said.
Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Yilan County deputy commissioner Lin Hsin-hua (林信華) said the museum lacked proper management and failed to live up to the expectations of Yilan residents.
Construction at the museum resumed during the tenure of former county commissioner Lu Kuo-hua (呂國華) of the KMT and it opened under incumbent Yilan County Commissioner Lin Tsung-hsien (林聰賢) of the Democratic Progressive Party, Lin Hsin-hua said, adding that the museum should review its management policies.
Cultural Department Director Lin Chiu-fang (林秋芳) said that the museum was managed better than most public museums, adding that the department would work with the museum in developing more in-depth exhibitions, as well as ensuring exhibitions are changed regularly.
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