(Nexstar) – A few weeks after the Interior Department budget proposal Suggestion for financial year 2026 An overload for some national park visitorsPresident Donald Trump has signed an executive order Just calling for that.
The order signed on Thursday directed the internal secretary Dag Bergam to promote revenue and develop a “strategy” to improve recreational experiences in national parks, The Hill reports last weekAs that part, the entry fee and the cost for an entertainment pass intend to grow for “non -residents”.
International visitors currently do not pay much to visit national parks than American inhabitants.
The White House said the price hike will make national parks more cheap for American families.
Here we know about Trump’s order and budget proposal of internal department.
Internal Budget: Surprise will bring in $ 90m
Interior department budget proposal The financial year 2026 said that an overload would help bring over more than $ 90 million, but did not underline.
“There may be revenue opportunities for a billion-dollar without discouraging visitors.” Said During a house committee on natural resources Hearing In June. He did not expand how the additional fees could bring more than $ 90 million, and the department did not respond to Nexstar’s request for additional information last month.
An analysis by SfgateUsing an estimate that 14.6 million international visitors went to US national parks last year, determined that if the parks saw the same number of visitors in 2026, the surcharge required to reach the above budget target would be approximately $ 6 a person.
The charges for out-of-quarters are not uncommon
“I think we are undercharging as a nation for international visitors,” Bergam Said During June HearingBergam pointed to other international locations, where Americans and other non -resident tourists are charged more than locals like the Galapagos Islands. There, non-AQEDorian adults will have to pay $ 200 entry fee in cash, in Galpagos National Park. The entry fee for children is $ 100. Meanwhile, Ecuadorian citizens above 12 years of age Pay $ 30 While the fee for small citizens is $ 12.
Citizens have also exempted or exempted for popular tourist attractions worldwide. European Union’s college-affected residents have free access to several museums within member countries, including Lauvar And The ores museum In Paris. Tourists pay 20 times more to travel Taj Mahal Compared to local residents.
Hawaii will start charging A “Green Fee” Tourist Tax The state is expected to face the state to generate money to reduce future environmental challenges next year. Chicago Area museum Provides concessional entry to the residents of the city. The residents of New York State are able to pay whatever they like to travel The Metropolitan Museum of ArtHowever, they are required to pay at least one penny per ticket. Even Disney World And Disneyland Offer deals for those who live near their parks.
What to say for Trump’s order
Regarding international visitors in national parks, Trump’s orders ask for increased fees for foreign visitors, as well as for a price increase America beautiful pass And “any site-specific agency or regional multi-unit pass” is sold to foreign visitors.
America beautiful pass Currently available at various price points and offers free entry into national parks and federal recreational land. An annual pass, “available to all, is $ 80. A senior annual pass is $ 20, while a senior lifetime pass is $ 80. Others can qualify for a free annual or lifetime pass.
According to Trump’s order, the price increase is applied only to parks that charge the entrance or entertainment pass. currently, Only 106 Of the 475 sites managed by National Park Service Charge an entry fee,
Neither Trump’s executive order nor the budget of the internal department underlined how much admission and pass fees can increase.
Increased revenue from non -agarcies will then be used to “improve infrastructure of”, or otherwise to increase or enhance the pleasure of federal recreational regions of the US. “
Price hike comes with a decrease in the proposed budget
While foreign visitor fees can bring more revenue for parks, the Trump administration has proposed to cut the staff of the National Park Service up to 30 percent, The hill report,
Meanwhile, the budget proposal of the internal department is requesting $ 2 billion for national parks, which is more than $ 1 billion than the current budget. This will be the biggest cut in NPS history, according to National garden protection association (NPCA).
However, Trump’s order asks for efforts to increase visual capacity in the US national parks, invests in infrastructure on sites, and improves the park’s access to American families by ensuring that they “get priority in any permission or reservation systems.”
National Park Service was its The biggest year of attendance in 2024Record travel with more than two dozen sites.
