Tourism Faces Uncertainty Amid National Park Service Shutdown

Mon Oct 20 2025 18:32:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The ongoing government shutdown has resulted in furloughs affecting the National Park Service, leading to limited access at major tourist attractions, particularly in Philadelphia and across various national parks.

As thousands of National Park Service employees are furloughed due to the government shutdown, major attractions like the Liberty Bell are closed to visitors, while parks like the Statue of Liberty remain accessible. Various states are considering funding options to keep attractions open, but the long-term impacts on tourism and local economies remain uncertain.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tourists aboard boats were happily visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island this morning, while in Philadelphia, visitors to Independence Mall found themselves turned away from the Liberty Bell, a site that's been closed due to the ongoing government shutdown. Approximately two-thirds of National Park Service employees face furloughs as the halt in government services takes effect.

A plan released by National Park Service on Tuesday indicated that many park areas would remain accessible, but this comes with a caveat of severely reduced staff numbers. The contingency plan stated that operational parks could experience closures if they sustained damage or faced sanitation issues.

With limited updates available online, many park-goers are left uncertain about specific site access. Questions regarding camping permits in parks like Chaco Culture National Historical Park are flooding social media, showing a community eager to engage but unsure of the realities on the ground.

The furloughs are expected to hinder the services provided in national parks which can often play crucial roles in local economies. For instance, Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi has closed its doors entirely, while groups seek alternative funding methods to keep it operational.

Historically, shutdowns have crippled national park access, resulting in significant losses in visitor spending and impacting gateway communities heavily reliant on tourism. During a similar shutdown in 2013, the National Park Service revealed an estimated loss of $500 million, highlighting the potential ramifications of the current situation.

While efforts are underway in several states to fund park operations during shutdowns, the future of national park accessibility remains a concern. As communities wait and watch, the hope is that necessary measures will be taken to protect not only the natural resources but also the economic engines that drive tourism in these areas.