New Fees for Foreign Visitors to U. S. National Parks

The U. S. government is planning to raise prices for international visitors to national parks starting next year. This move comes as fewer tourists from other countries are visiting the U. S. due to political tensions and a decline in foreign tourism. Starting January 1, the annual park pass for nonresidents will go from $80 to $250. Additionally, tourists without an annual pass will have to pay an extra $100 on top of the regular entrance fee to visit some of the most popular parks, like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. The government says these changes are meant to prioritize American families. However, it's not clear how this will affect the number of visitors or the parks' revenue. The National Park Service has been struggling with budget cuts and staff shortages, which have led to reduced services and maintenance issues. Interestingly, U. S. residents won't have to pay to enter national parks on six federal holidays, as well as on the National Park Service's birthday and the president's birthday, which is also Flag Day. The decline in international tourists, especially from Canada, has been ongoing since the start of the second term of the current U. S. president. This trend is partly due to trade disputes and harsh rhetoric aimed at Canadians. The National Park Service has seen a significant reduction in staff since the current administration took office. This has resulted in fewer rangers, reduced visitor center hours, and neglected maintenance tasks. The parks have also lost millions in revenue this year because they lack the staff to collect visitor fees.