Visit USA, an association that offers U.K. travelers accurate information from U.S. travel sector experts, launched a petition opposing the new U.S. national park fees for international visitors. The fee changes, announced in late November, will mean that nonresidents will now have to pay $200 for an annual pass (up from $80). Nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee.
“This fee contradicts the very ethos of national parks — spaces meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of borders. International tourism not only fosters global understanding and appreciation of the U.S.'s stunning landscapes but also brings significant economic benefits to park-adjacent communities and the nation as a whole,” Kate Kenward, CEO of Visit USA, told the Traveler. “Introducing an additional hurdle in the form of higher fees could dissuade international travellers from including U.S. national parks in their itineraries, ultimately leading to a decrease in tourism revenue. This situation would be detrimental not only to the parks themselves, which rely on visitor spending for maintenance and conservation efforts, but also to countless local businesses and workers who depend on international tourism for their livelihoods.”
The United Kingdom is one of the main sources of U.S. inbound tourism. In 2023, it was the third-largest, with 3.90 million visitors. Canada and Mexico held the top spots.
Many Canadians have started to boycott travel to the U.S. in the face of the fee increases, and it’s possible that visitors from the U.K. could follow suit. Kenward says that since launching the petition, almost 200 people from all over the world have signed it.
The petition states that it is meant to urge the Department of the Interior “to reconsider this fee and to explore alternative methods to ensure the financial sustainability of our national parks.”
“There are more inclusive ways to address funding needs for national parks without unfairly targeting international visitors,” said Kenward. “Possible solutions could include increasing funding from federal budgets, developing partnerships with international conservation organizations to finance park maintenance, or implementing a voluntary donation system for park visitors. We hope the Department of the Interior may reconsider this fee and explore alternative methods to ensure the financial sustainability of the national parks.”
It's unclear whether Interior would reconsider the fees, especially given that some experts predict that increased fees for nonresidents could generate over $1 billion nationwide each year.
While a full-on boycott against U.S. travel has not yet begun in the U.K., Kenward says many people who were planning trips to the U.S. next year “are trying to purchase the America the Beautiful Annual Pass now to take advantage of the current rate before the anticipated increase on 1 January.”
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