Flat Admission Pricing as a Barrier to Inclusive Access

Inclusivity in museums depends not only on physical or cultural factors but also on financial aspects and the barriers associated with them, including who can afford to enter. In this context, the concept of admission pricing remains less explored from the perspective of museum inclusivity. While the existing literature suggests that demand for museums is price-inelastic, this exploratory case study attempts to examine in depth the effects of a flat admission fee of ₹100 per person at Amar Mahal Palace Museum, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The study employed tools such as structured observation of eighty visiting groups, along with one hundred visitor questionnaire responses. Individual visitors, friends, families, and large groups showed different responses to admission pricing, the idea of cumulative ticket costs, and perceived value. Findings of the study point out that the potential of differential pricing strategies helps in balancing revenue generation in museums while improving accessibility, especially in regional museums.