‘America first': Donald Trump orders foreign tourists to pay higher fees at US National Parks
'I have just signed an executive order to raise entry fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans,' the US President said at a rally in Iowa. 'The national parks will be about America first.'
Mr Trump has also ordered the US National Park Service to ensure that Americans receive priority access in reservation systems.
The White House says the extra funds from foreigners will go towards improving parks infrastructure and conservation projects.
It is the latest announcement in Mr Trump's controversial planned upheaval of the country's national parks system.
His 2026 financial year budget proposes to cut more than $US1 billion ($A1.5 billion) in federal funding for the US National Parks Service (nearly 40 per cent of the agency's current budget), which has been described by National Park Conservation Association president Theresa Pierno as 'catastrophic'.
The White House claimed the proposed budget would 'continue supporting many national treasures, but there is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer certain properties to state-level management to ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the national park system'.
NPS oversees 85 million acres of federal land and there are 433 sites in the National Park System, with parks in every state.
In February, more than 1000 park workers were laid off (more than 700 others took buyouts). Ms Pierno said in an update last week the NPS had lost 24 per cent of its permanent staff, nearly a quarter of its workforce, since Mr Trump took office.
'And the (Trump) administration has filled only half of the nearly 8000 seasonal positions it promised,' she said. 'Without these essential workers, visitor centers and campgrounds will close, trails will go unmaintained, rescue response times will slow, and cultural sites will fall into disrepair. All of this as millions of visitors pour into parks this summer.'
Best-selling American author Colleen Hoover, whose books in 2022 outsold the Bible, told her 1.9 million Instagram followers on Tuesday she would pay the difference in park ticket prices for foreign tourists.
'If you're from out of the country and are a follower of mine and have a visit to a national park planned, let me know,' the Texas mum behind the hit romance It Ends With Us said.
'I'll pay the difference in your ticket price. These policies do not reflect the hearts of all the kind people in this country.'
Entrance fees for national parks in the US vary. Currently, popular sites including Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park and Yellowstone National Park charge $US20 (about $A30) per person or $US35 (about $A54) per vehicle.
Some national parks don't charge entrance fees and, according to Mr Trump's order, the fee hike will only affect those that do.
It is not yet known when the fees will increase and by how much.
Aussie-born company joins the fight
Australian-born global travel company Intrepid Travel has been extremely vocal about the threat US national parks face from budget cuts and lay offs.
The company donated $US50,000 ($A77,000) to the National Park Conservation Association.
Speaking to news.com.au in June, Intrepid Travel's Leigh Barnes described national parks as 'incredibly important' to the US and said the White House's massive proposed funding cuts are 'putting access at risk'.
'We need healthy, vibrant national parks for our business, and also the impact of not having tourism go to national parks in the USA is going to put local businesses underground,' said Mr Barnes, an Australian who relocated to Seattle this year to take up the role of managing director of the Americas.
In response to the Trump Administration's actions, Intrepid Travel launched limited edition 'Active-ism' trips in the parks, hosted by influential activists and local guides.
The trips are about $US500-$600 ($A770-$920) cheaper than a standard itinerary, despite the addition of an activist.
'That has been a deliberate focus, making them as accessible as possible,' Mr Barnes said.
'They're not going to be the world's greatest profit generator for the organisation, but that's not the purpose.'
Intrepid Travel has 26 trips across 18 national parks, and employs 200 local guides and 60 staff there. The company has taken more than 20,000 travellers and expects to host another 5000 this year.
Mr Barnes explained that it's not just direct jobs at the US National Parks Service at risk.
'They (national parks) are absolutely amazing economic drivers for these areas. Having these national parks creates jobs in and around the national parks ecosystem. Not just the national parks employees but all the little smaller businesses and ecosystems it supports,' he said.
He added: 'They're a massive pride and icon in the USA.
'We want to ensure these amazing parts of the USA are not just here for this generation but the generations beyond.'
Mr Barnes said the more people who experience nature, the more that are likely to advocate for these spaces, so his team simply asked themselves, 'how do we encourage more people to go out to national parks?'.
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