Travel And Tourism Groups Express Concern Over GAOA Provisions

A coalition of eight travel and tourism associations sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee leadership urging lawmakers not to include provisions in the proposed Great American Outdoor Act 250 that would codify the recently implemented international visitor surcharge or create new commercial group entrance fees at national parks.

“While we recognize and support the goal of strengthening funding for our national parks, these measures risk further complicating already strained entrance operations during peak travel season,” wrote the coalition.

Signed into law in 2020, GAOA authorized up to $1.6 billion annually for five years to fund deferred maintenance projects for critical facilities and infrastructure in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, and Tribal schools. Congress now has an opportunity to reauthorize the law under GAOA 250.

In the letter, the groups also criticized certain restrictions on the America the Beautiful Pass that make it difficult for group tour operators. “At present, there is no workable mechanism for inbound tour operators to purchase America the Beautiful (ATB) passes on behalf of their international clients prior to arrival,” they explained in the letter.

“In addition, the current interpretation limiting the ATB pass to the passholder’s ‘immediate travel party’ (e.g., families or couples) does not translate to the realities of commercial group travel,” the groups added. “For organized tours, the ‘travel party’ must be defined as the full group. Any other approach introduces unnecessary administrative burden for park staff, slows entry processing, and creates friction at already congested entrance points.”

The letter underscored the burden being placed on tour operators in the face of the surcharge being applied to international visitors: “Higher fees—particularly for international visitors—are making U.S. tours more difficult to sell globally, with operators reporting that travelers are increasingly choosing alternative destinations with lower total costs.”

On January 1, 2026, the Trump administration began charging international visitors to a handful of national parks a $100 entrance fee. The annual ATB pass also increased to $250 for international visitors, compared to $80 for U.S. residents.

The groups expressed concern over the effects on gateway communities, as well as tour operators that may struggle to maintain national park itineraries in the face of rising costs.

“Operators report that even modest fee increases are likely to reduce bookings—particularly among international travelers—while higher operating costs are already forcing businesses to reevaluate itineraries, reduce national park visits, or shift travelers to alternative destinations,” said Callie Hoyt, senior vice president of public affairs and government relations at the American Bus Association.

“[W]e respectfully encourage the Committee to urge DOI to prioritize a practical, group tour–specific solution that can be implemented quickly and effectively,” states the letter. “With focused direction and collaboration, DOI and NPS can deliver an approach that supports park operations, protects the visitor experience, and preserves the economic contributions of domestic and international travel.”