According to CBS News, “President Trump signed an executive order Thursday calling on the national park system to charge higher entry fees for foreign visitors. It instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who oversees the National Park Service, to ‘develop a strategy’ to hike entrance fees and recreation pass fees for non-U.S. residents at any national park that currently charges for entry.”
He also ordered the Interior Department “to give U.S. residents ‘preferential treatment’ over foreign visitors regarding ‘recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules’ that parks might have in place.”
This might sound like a good idea to Americans who don’t follow the travel industry but I’m afraid it’s only going to give international visitors another reason not to come to the United States. This is going to be a huge mistake since, on average, international visitors spend $4,000–$4,500 per person per trip to the U.S., while domestic travelers spend significantly less, around $1,000–$1,200 per person.
International visitors spend more than $200 billion a year and support more than 1 million U.S. jobs, which are critical to everyone, but especially to hotels, attractions, restaurants and luxury retail.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, nature-based tourism is a major draw for overseas visitors, particularly from Europe and Asia. Surveys consistently show that many international travelers cite visiting a U.S. National Park as a primary motivation for their trip. In particular, destinations in the American West—such as the Utah Mighty 5, the parks in Arizona and California’s Yosemite and Sequoia, are heavily marketed overseas and have become bucket-list experiences for travelers from Germany, the UK, France, Japan and South Korea.
A few months ago, a middle-aged man with a thick European accent asked me for directions in Los Angeles. Curious, I asked him where he was from and he replied, “Switzerland.” I shared how much I love Switzerland, and he smiled, telling me how much he loves the U.S. When I asked him what his favorite part of the country is, he immediately said, “the National Parks.”
U.S. National Parks play a crucial role in attracting international tourists to the United States, serving as iconic destinations that showcase the country’s natural beauty, ecological diversity and cultural heritage. In fact, the National Park Service (NPS) reports that over 318 million visits were made to national parks in 2023, and a significant portion of those were international travelers. From the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to Yosemite and the Everglades, these parks are among the most recognizable American attractions worldwide and often rank high on foreign visitors’ travel itineraries.
Beyond their tourism appeal, National Parks also contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. The National Park Service estimates that visitor spending in communities near parks generated more than $50 billion in total economic output in 2022, supporting over 378,000 jobs. International tourism plays a key role in this impact, as these travelers often stay longer and spend more than domestic visitors, fueling local economies in gateway communities that depend on park-related travel.
Ultimately, National Parks are not just scenic landmarks. They are powerful tools for public diplomacy and tourism marketing. They represent the freedom to explore wide open spaces, the U.S. commitment to conservation and the diversity of America’s landscapes. Promoting and protecting these parks is essential not only for environmental stewardship but also for sustaining and growing international visitation to the United States.
For those planning on visiting any of the U.S. National Parks in 2025, or simply looking for a good, cheap adventure, take note of the six days in 2025 on which all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. These dates are also good to know if you want to avoid the crowds.
KEEP READING:
–8 Ways To Make Sure An Airline Doesn’t Lose Your Bag … And That You Don’t Get Robbed or Stalked
–The Trick For Getting Airport Luggage Carts for Free
–Airline Lost Your Luggage? Do This If You Want to Get Compensated
–Why Frequent Fliers Use Apple AirTags or Samsung SmartTags When They Travel
–An Airline Executive’s Number One Tip for Avoiding Lost Luggage When You Fly
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
I cannot tell you how many places I have traveled to where I, as the foreigner have had to pay a great deal more than the locals. I see no reason why the US cannot do the same. I see no reason why the National Park service should keep prices down for foreign travelers. Raising NP costs for foreigners is not going to be a deciding factor in keeping them from traveling to the US.
I have traveled to many places in Asia and most of the tourist spots charge extra to foreign visitors. In India especially Red fort, Taj Mahal to name a few all charged more. South Africa charges more for their parks, south America many countries charge more. US citizens pay taxes to support the parks so paying less makes sense. For foreign visitors even doubling the cost of entry is not a huge increase in travel budgets. Maybe investigate topics a little more before an articles suggesting it will decrease travel
The one person you talked to notwithstanding, I’d be shocked if this had any impact on a traveler’s decison to visit the US. On balance, I’d also be shocked if it had any tangible impact on park revenue.
Johnny,
This is a common practice at parks around the world. I believe that you will find that Canada charges foreign visitors more.