Latest news with #entryfees
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Canadian visitors face higher fees at US national parks
Canadians visiting US national parks will soon pay higher entry fees. On July 3, President Trump signed an executive order increasing fees for all foreign tourists. The White House stated these additional funds will go towards improving park services, access, and affordability for Americans. A new executive order directs the Secretary of the Interior to raise national park fees exclusively for foreign visitors. The goal is to make these parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families. The new fees are expected to generate over $90 million, earmarked for conservation, reducing maintenance backlogs, and improving park infrastructure. The U.S. Department of the Interior's recent Budget in Brief indicates the National Park Service (NPS) will implement this surcharge for foreign visitors in 2026. Daily Hive has contacted the NPS for further details. While many U.S. national parks offer free public access, popular destinations like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite charge entry fees. Annual passes for these parks can cost up to US70(C95.25). The White House states that increasing fees for foreign tourists aligns with global national park policies, which often charge non-residents more to support conservation and make parks more affordable for locals. Despite the fee increases, some American politicians are actively working to attract Canadian tourists, whose cross-border travel has significantly declined. For instance, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a new tourism campaign in April with the direct appeal: "A message for our Canadian friends: come visit California." To show solidarity with their northern neighbors amidst strained relations, officials in Burlington, Vermont, temporarily renamed its popular Church Street to Canada Street. Burlington City Councillor Becca Brown McKnight explained the move to Daily Hive, stating, 'Vermonters overall, and Burlingtonians in particular, including myself, are downright fed up with Donald Trump's damaging policy choices and negative rhetoric.' For Canadian outdoor enthusiasts staying closer to home, the Canada Strong Pass offers fantastic domestic park benefits until September 2. This pass provides free admission to national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas. It also includes free entry for children aged 17 and under to national museums, making it ideal for families.
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Travel + Leisure
6 days ago
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
The Latest National Park Executive Order Is Going to Make Park Fees More Expensive for Some Tourists—What to Know
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 3, that will change entry fees, reservation systems, and funding models for the national park system. The new changes will primarily affect international visitors, but there could be implications for all future guests. 'It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America's splendid national treasures,' the first section of the executive order states. This latest development comes after the Trump administration has already made major changes to the National Parks Service (NPS), including cutting 1,000 employees from the agency in February 2025. The National Parks Conservation Association reports that the parks have lost about 24 percent of its permanent staff, and is about 8,000 employees short for seasonal hiring. With other proposals to cut funding for the agency in 2026 recently considered, the latest executive order suggests major shakeups are still to come. Here's what we know so far. The executive order does not state the exact increase in fees for international tourists or how those entry fee rules will be enforced. Entry fees to national parks vary for each location, according to the NPS database. 'The Secretary of the Interior shall develop a strategy to increase revenue and improve the recreational experience at national parks by appropriately increasing entrance fees and recreation pass fees for nonresidents in areas of the National Park System that charge entrance fees or recreation pass fees,' the executive order states. The executive order also said the price of the America the Beautiful Pass and 'any site-specific or regional multi-entity passes' will be increased for international travelers. The stated goal of these price hikes is to increase revenue for the parks system to assist in conservation, preservation, and infrastructure investments in the park. There is not a clear timeline for when the price increase will become effective or how it will be enforced. Some national parks do not have any entry fee at all. Right now, the executive order can be understood as an official set of directions for Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. International travelers can interpret the executive order as future change to anticipate instead of an immediate price to account for. The order also directs Burgum to review access to national parks, including to 'take steps to rescind any that unnecessarily restrict recreation in national parks,' and to 'grant American residents preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules.' The exact implementation of this component remains to be seen, but it can be interpreted as a move towards removing some reservation systems that popular and busy parks require. For national parks that keep a reservation system in place after this proposed overhaul, American residents will receive priority. In just a single line in the executive order, President Trump revoked the President Memorandum of 2017, called Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Our National Parks, National Forests, and Other Public Lands and Waters. This means the DEI efforts at the parks will no longer be prioritized (and possibly funded) by the Secretary of Interior and, thus, the NPS. When asked for clarification about timelines and potential increases, the National Parks Service directed Travel + Leisure to Secretary Burgum's tweet about the executive order.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Donald Trump orders entry fee, DEI changes at national parks. How it affects Michigan
Visiting Michigan's national lakeshores and parks is about to get more expensive for international tourists because of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. The new order calls for charging non-U.S. residents higher fees for park entry and recreation passes, including the yearlong America the Beautiful pass, which grants access to public lands across federal agencies, as well as pulling back on DEI orders under President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden. "From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America's national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories," Trump said in the July 3 order. "It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America's splendid national treasures," he said. In Michigan, people can visit a national park (Isle Royale), two national lakeshores (Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks), a national battlefield park (River Raisin in Monroe), a national historic park (multiple sites in the Keweenaw Peninsula) and a national heritage area (Detroit). Only Isle Royale and the lakeshores entry charge fees. Any revenue generated by higher fees from foreign tourists, Trump's order says, will be funneled back into infrastructure improvements and other enhancements across federal recreation sites. The order also requires a review of maintenance needs and stipulates that the Secretary of the Interior will take steps to make necessary improvements. USA TODAY reached out the Interior Department and National Park Service for comment on the new executive order. What to know about the order and Michigan's national parks. Reservations required: Which national parks require them in 2025 The order calls for giving Americans "preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules." The executive order revokes a presidential memorandum signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2017 that promoted a range of diversity and inclusion efforts in the management of national parks and other public lands. It called for improving access for all Americans and "considering recommendations and proposals from diverse populations to protect at-risk historic, cultural, and natural sites." Diversity and inclusion were also priorities for parks during the Biden administration. Before leaving office in January, then National Park Service Director Chuck Sams told USA TODAY: "When I took my oath of office on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Secretary (Deb) Haaland said, on behalf of the president of the United States, myself and the American people, I'm charging you with these monuments, memorials and parks, but more importantly, we're charging you to find those stories that are less told or haven't been told yet, and to tell them fiercely. "So over the last three-plus years, working all across the park system, we've been able to tell stories to ensure that every American sees a reflection of themselves in the parks," he said. But the latest move comes after Trump on his first day back in office in January ordered an end to government diversity, equity, and inclusion programs established under Biden. In 2023, 2.8 million park visitors spent an estimated $273 million in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands in Michigan, the NPS said. The expenditures supported a total of 3,730 jobs, $139 million in labor income, $237 million in value added, and $413 million in economic output in the Michigan economy. The statistics were not broken down by domestic or foreign visitors. Visitor spending around Sleeping Bear Dunes totaled $197 million, Pictured Rocks about $46 million, River Raisin about $17 million, Isle Royale about $12 million and the Keweenaw area about 42 million. In 1966, Congress designated the area along Lake Superior's southern shore between Munising and Grand Marais as the nation's first national lakeshore, but the park's features are more than 10,000 years old. More: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore renown for colorful cliffs, but there's more to see, do The namesake of the park is the multicolored sandstone cliffs that stretch for 15 miles along Lake Superior's south shore. The cliffs are streaked with various minerals that leave different colors behind. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore saw 910,939 total visitors in 2023, a 1.5% decrease from 2022 and a 30% decrease from 2021, where the park saw its highest visitation of 1.3 million visitors, according to the National Park Service. Standard pass fees are $15 (snowmobile) to $25 (private vehicle), and $25 to $100 for commercial vehicles. An annual pass for the lakeshore is $45. America the Beautiful passes range from free to $80. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, northwest of Traverse City, welcomes 1.5 million visitors each year, according to the National Park Service. More: This national lakeshore offers dunes, camping along Lake Michigan. Where to visit The national lakeshore offers towering sand dunes to navigate, beaches for swimming and sunbathing, hiking and biking trails, inland Manitou islands, historic coastal villages and museums, camping, forests, rivers and inland lakes for kayaking or tubing or canoeing, a lighthouse and more. The tallest dune is 450 feet. Entrance passes to the lakeshore include a $25 standard pass, with varying prices for larger vehicles; $45 annual pass and America the Beautiful pass at varying prices. There are also seven-day digital passes. The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands pass is $80 for an annual pass, $80 for a senior lifetime pass, $20 for a senior annual pass and free for military annual pass, military lifetime pass, access pass, fourth grade pass, and volunteer pass. River Raisin park preserves, commemorates, and interprets the January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their aftermath, the park service said, that resulted in the greatest victory for Tecumseh's Confederation and the British and the greatest defeat for the U.S. The park includes the battlefield itself, as well as a nearby visitor center. The park visitor center includes a diorama of the River Raisin settlement, orientation maps, ranger programs, basic park orientation, and gift shop. The park sits on the north bank of the River Raisin, along Elm Avenue. The visitor center is across the street along North Dixie Highway. No entrance pass is required to access River Raisin National Battlefield Park, according to the park service. There is also no charge to view the film "The Untold Legacy of the River Raisin" in the park's theater. The Keweenaw National Historic Park includes a variety of sites throughout "Copper Country" in the Keweenaw, many of which are privately operated. The Calumet Visitor Center is located at 98 5th Street in downtown Calumet. Visitors can explore two floors of interactive exhibits, films, and museum pieces focusing not only on mining history, but also the social aspect of the communities that developed to support mining operations, the park service said. An entrance pass is not required to access Keweenaw National Historical Park, but privately operated sites within the park area may charge fees. Isle Royale National Park, one of the nation's least-visited and most remote parks, offers a rugged landscape in the middle of Lake Superior to explore in the northern Great Lakes, according to Pure Michigan. The park is operated by the National Park Service, the lone national park in Michigan. There are more than 400 islands, some tiny, that make up the archipelago. Isle Royale, the park's main island, is 9 miles wide and 50 miles long, the park service says. More: How big is Isle Royale National Park? What to know about the remote island chain In addition to reaching the islands via private boats, there are several seaplane and ferry routes to the archipeligo. Some lodging options are available on the island, including the Rock Harbor Lodge and the Windigo Camper Cabins. The island has boating docks, multiple campgrounds with options for group camping, inland lake paddling campgrounds, trail accessible campgrounds and Lake Superior accessible campgrounds. Isle Royale National Park charges a $7 per person daily entrance fee to enter or remain within the park per calendar day. The Isle Royale season pass costs $60. Federal lands passes (annual, military, veteran, senior, access, and volunteer) are accepted at Isle Royale. Congressionally designated in 1998, MotorCities National Heritage Area preserves the story of how tinkerers became titans and how auto and labor helped build the middle class while transforming manufacturing worldwide, the park service says. The area encompasses the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Detroit Historical Museum, Edsel and Eleanor Ford home, Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, Gilmore Car Museum near Kalamazoo, Alfred P. Sloan Museum in Flint, Ford Piquette Avenue plant, R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing and the Old Mill Museum in Dundee. The sites included in the heritage area all are operated by groups other than the park service and charge entrance fees. — USA TODAY contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Trump orders national parks to charge foreign tourists higher fees
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump orders entry fee, DEI changes at national parks
Visiting America's national parks is about to get more expensive for international tourists, but that's not the only change ordered by President Donald Trump that will impact park visitors. A new executive order calls for charging non-U.S. residents higher fees for park entry and recreation passes, like the yearlong America the Beautiful pass, which grants access to public lands across federal agencies. "From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the tranquility of the Great Smoky Mountains, America's national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories," Trump said in the order issued July 3. "It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists, improving affordability for United States residents, and expanding opportunities to enjoy America's splendid national treasures," he said. The order also calls for giving Americans "preferential treatment with respect to any remaining recreational access rules, including permitting or lottery rules." Any revenue generated by higher fees from foreign tourists will be funneled back into infrastructure improvements and other enhancements across federal recreation sites. Reservations required: Which national parks require them in 2025 Unrelated, the executive order also revokes a presidential memorandum signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2017 that promoted a range of diversity and inclusion efforts in the management of national parks and other public lands. It called for improving access for all Americans and "considering recommendations and proposals from diverse populations to protect at-risk historic, cultural, and natural sites." Diversity and inclusion were also priorities for parks during the Biden administration. Before leaving office in January, then National Park Service Director Chuck Sams told USA TODAY: "When I took my oath of office on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Secretary (Deb) Haaland said, on behalf of the president of the United States, myself and the American people, I'm charging you with these monuments, memorials and parks, but more importantly, we're charging you to find those stories that are less told or haven't been told yet, and to tell them fiercely. "So over the last three-plus years, working all across the park system, we've been able to tell stories to ensure that every American sees a reflection of themselves in the parks," he said. But the latest move comes after Trump on his first day back in office in January ordered an end to government diversity, equity, and inclusion programs established under Biden. USA TODAY has reached out the Interior Department and National Park Service for comment on the new executive order. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump orders national parks to charge some tourists higher fees
NHK
04-07-2025
- NHK
US to raise foreign visitors' entrance fees to national parks
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to increase entrance fees for foreign visitors at national parks in the country. The executive order signed on Thursday states that "America's national parks have provided generations of American families with unforgettable memories." It says the increase in entry fees for foreign tourists will improve affordability for United States residents and support infrastructure improvements at national parks. Materials released by the White House pointed out that although US citizens fund national parks with their tax dollars, they are charged the same entry fees as foreign visitors. The documents said Trump is ending "this unfair situation." The timing and amount of the fee hike are expected to be decided later. In a speech in the state of Iowa on the same day, Trump said, "We're going to take it America first for the national parks, and these are just a few of the many programs, initiative celebrations that will renew for our national pride. We're gonna have great pride."
