The President signed an executive Order on July 3 that will affect entry fees, reservation systems and funding models. national park system. The changes will affect international visitors the most, but could also have an impact on future guests.
“It’s the policy of my Administration that we preserve these opportunities for American family in future generations, by increasing entry fee for foreign tourists and improving affordability for United States resident, as well as expanding opportunities to enjoy America’s splendid national treasures,” is the first section. executive order states.
The Trump administration has made a number of announcements about this latest development. major changes National Parks Service (NPS), which includes cutting 1,000 jobs from the agency by February 2025. The National Parks Service (NPS) will be cut by 1,000 employees in February 2025. National Parks Conservation Association Reports state that the parks are short about 8,000 seasonal employees and have lost 24 percent of their permanent staff.
Recent proposals to reduce funding to the agency for 2026 were also considered. This latest executive order implies that there are more major changes to come. What we know about the executive order so far.
What will be the price for international tourists to enter National Parks?
The executive order did not specify how the entry fee rules would be enforced or what fees will apply to international tourists. The fees for entering national parks are different in each place. NPS database. The executive order says that the Secretary of Interior must develop a plan to improve the recreational experience in national parks, by increasing fees for entrance and recreation passes.
The executive order stated that the cost of the America the Beautiful Pass, as well “as any site-specific or multi-entity regional passes” for international travelers will also be increased. These price increases are intended to raise revenue for the parks to help with conservation, preservation and infrastructure investment in the park.
When does the price increase take effect?
The price increase is not clear when it will go into effect or how this will be enforced. In some national parks, there is no entry fee. The executive order is currently a set of official directions for Secretary Doug Burgum.
Travelers from abroad can read the executive order to mean that they should anticipate future changes, not an immediate cost.
The system of reservations will be modified.
The order also instructs Burgum that he must review access to the national parks. This includes “taking steps to remove any rules or regulations which unnecessarily restrict recreational activities in national parks,” as well as “granting American citizens preferential treatment for any remaining rules or regulations governing access to recreation, such as lottery and permit rules.”
This component is still being implemented. However, it could be interpreted to mean that some parks with high traffic will no longer require reservation systems. American residents will be given priority for national parks which keep their reservation systems in place even after the proposed overhaul.
Any other changes to the Executive Order?
In a single sentence of the executive order President Trump revoked his President Memorandum from 2017, entitled Promoting Diversity and inclusion in Our National Parks National Forests and Other Public Lands and Waters. This means that the DEI effort in the parks won’t be prioritised (and funded) by Secretary of Interior or the NPS.
When asked about timing and potential increases, National Parks Service directed Travel + Leisure Secretary Burgum tweets about the Executive Order
