In brief
The National Park Service announced that starting January 1, international tourists will be charged an additional $100 entry fee to 11 popular national parks, including Yellowstone and Yosemite. This new policy, termed 'America-first entry fee policies,' is aimed at helping to alleviate budgetary strains on park services following major staff reductions and a government shutdown. Alongside this, the price for an annual parks pass for foreign tourists will rise to $250, while U.S. residents maintain a fee of $80. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum emphasized that these changes ensure affordability for American taxpayers while contributing to park maintenance. The National Parks Conservation Association has voiced concerns regarding the announcement's implications and its enforcement.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents.
The announcement declaring “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks deal with the strain of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts, along with recovering from damage during the recent government shutdown and significant lost revenue due to fees not being collected during that time.
The fee change will impact 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
As part of the changes, which are set to take effect Jan. 1, foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department’s statement.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform X that the changes ensure U.S. taxpayers who support the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations!”
The announcement follows a July executive order in which President Donald Trump directed the parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists.
“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions on its implementation – all of which NPCA will raise with the Department of Interior,” Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email.
The U.S. Travel Association estimated that in 2018, national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors.
The money made off the new fees will help support the national parks, including with upgrading facilities for visitors and maintenance, according to the statement.
The 'resident-only patriotic fee-free days' next year include Veterans Day, which was one of the parks’ eight free days open to everyone in 2025. The Department of the Interior had announced those days by saying they wanted to ensure that “everyone, no matter their zip code, can access and enjoy the benefits of green spaces and our public lands.”
