A proposal to require reservations at peak times for visitors to Arches National Park could lead to a substantial economic impact to the area, according to an economist/NPS file
If Arches National Park moves forward with a plan to require advance reservations for visitors, it could lead to an initial economic hit of as much as $22 million to the Moab, Utah, area, according to an economic analysis. That dollar figure is far from firm, the economist cautioned, and could be greatly reduced as people get used to whatever traffic management plan the park settles on.
At the same time, however, such a reservation system "may enhance visitor experience and increase the economic value of trips to" the national park, noted Robert Paterson, who works for Industrial Economics, Incorporated, out of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Arches is one of a handful of national parks -- others include Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, Acadia, Grand Canyon, Glacier -- that struggle at times during the year with overcrowding. Zion officials have been working on their own management plan for some time, and it, too, includes provisions for reservations, though they might not be included in the final proposal.
Overcrowding can lead to natural resource impacts. In Zion Canyon, for instance, where there are roughly 13 miles of official trails, visitors going off trail have created another 30 miles of unofficial "social" trails. Complicating the planning process at Zion are concerns over how a visitation cap would impact area businesses.
“I think people realize that there are crowding problems, and would like to see some solutions to that," Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh told the Traveler in December. "But there’s a great amount of concern that that could have negative economic impacts on the tourism industry. And we certainly are taking that into account and have those concerns as well."
As with their counterparts at Zion, officials at Arches have been trying to figure out how to manage visitors and protect park resources and values for some time. Back in November 2017 they released a draft plan that proposed reservations during peak visitation months. Such a plan is needed, they say, to address vehicle traffic and parking congestion problems that affect visitor access, visitor enjoyment, and resource conditions.
Visitation to Arches National Park doubled in the past 11 years, reaching approximately 1.6 million visitors in 2016. During high-visitation season, March through October, visitors routinely wait in long lines to enter the park and then must search for empty parking spaces at all popular sites. Long lines to enter the park cause congestion at the intersection of U.S. 191 and the park entrance road, which can be a serious traffic hazard.
The reservation proposal is viewed as a way to give visitors certainty of entry, reduce or eliminate long entrance lines, spread visitation more evenly across the day, and improve the visitor experience by ensuring available parking space.
But Paterson pointed to some uncertainties in reaching his conclusions over the economic fallout such a plan would create.
"(R)epresentatives from the International Inbound Travel Association Board have suggested that regardless of whether a system is implemented next year or not, there will likely be a reduction in foreign bus tours booked due to concerns about the system," the economist said in a report sent to the park last summer.
The report was just publicly identified by park officials last month when they announced plans for a public meeting this summer about the progress being made on the management plan. Paterson is expected to be at the meeting.
The economist acknowledged that his work so far could not predict the long-term impact to the area's economy. He predicated his estimate based on other national parks that used various approaches to deal with congestion.
"While they are all qualitatively different circumstances ... they may be similar in an economic sense in that they created uncertainty that in turn affected visitation," he wrote. "Based on these analyses, relevant literature, and professional judgment, it is my opinion that visitation to Arches may be reduced by 5 to 10 percent of what it otherwise would be during the first year that a system is implemented. ... Relying on (National Park Service) estimates of Arches visitor spending, this could result in a reduction in spending of $11 to $22 million relative to what otherwise would be predicted in that first year, which in turn could reduce overall output, employment, wages, and tax receipts through associated multipliers."
With that said, he added that after the first year of the reservation system commercial operators and individual park visitors would adapt to the system and "visitation would revert to what it would otherwise be under the system by year three."
But, reflecting the overall lack of rigorous economic analysis, was Paterson's comment that "(T)here are a number of important caveats and uncertainties associated with these estimates. Foremost is that they are based solely on existing data and information regarding imperfect analogies. In addition, they do not account for the potential to mitigate impacts through additional education and outreach regarding the proposed system."
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Comments
We went to Arches in 2007 because I read an article that said it was one of the least crowded parks! But I can see why its crowded, it is absolutely beautriful.
Add more pay stations to accommodate more visitors and prevent long lines.
If I remember correctly, all the roads in the park are two-lane, so more entrances would just mean more cars trying to merge into traffic.
I really don't think that the answer is getting more people into the parks more quickly. As it is the visitor experience in many of the most popular National Parks is dismal. The most popular Texas State Parks are closed for hours at a time when visitation hits a certain predetermined limit.
Have a separate entrance stall just for Lifetime NP members and/or yearlong NP passes.
This is a great idea! If you can’t have a manned station for pass holders, how about a scannable card that allows entry through an express lane?
Ban foreign visitors if the National Parks are overcrowed. The National Parks are for the enjoyment of the American people. We don;t need hordes of foreigners overcrowding Parks that We the Peope support with our tax dollars.
Totally agree our federal tax dollars pay for it . We ahould have access to it over foreigners !
The national parks cost us very little: the entire budget for the National Park Service is a tiny 1/15th of one percent of the federal budget and the average American household pays as much for our national parks each year as it would cost to buy a cup of coffee.
I haven't read so much **** in the last years. Have you ever thaught about what lots of money are the "foreign" visitors bring to your country? And I'm sure, less of the foreign visitors are destroying your beautful country. These are in most cases your own people, who are probably frustrated by what is currently happening in your country.
but in one thing I agree with you - there are groups of Asian visitors - whether Toruists or locals - who are afraid of nothing, especially in Yellowstone NP.
So you don’t appreciate my spendings as a tourist in your beautiful coyntry...!?? Shame om you!!
What a great idea. Other countries should do the same. No one wants Americans visiting Stonehenge, the Alps, Venice, or the Serengeti. In fact, only New Yorkers should be allowed to visit the Statue of Liberty, only Arizonans should be admitted to the Grand Canyon, and only people from Wyoming should be allowed to see Old Faithful. I can see this being a useful attitude.
My idea is not to ban foreigners from visiting. I am for banning foreigners only if the Park is overcrowded. In most Parks that would usually mean full season. I am also far charging foreigners higher fees to enter our Parks at anytime becasue we pay taxes to support our Parks and they don't and many foreign countries charge more for foreigners to visit Parks and other attractions than locals pay too. Foreigners that can afford to come over for a visit can surely afford to pay higher fees than the American People. As for as a loss of tourism money, I don't care. The Parks are for the enjoyment of the American People and conservation and not as money making profit centers. I want to enjoy my Parks without being pushed and shoved, without being unable to find a place to park and without suffering the many other ill efffects of overcrowding. Shuttle busses are another solution to overcrowding but let's try elimanating foreigners first to solve overcrowding.
I agree
Is that what your government is teaching you? Our earth belongs to all of us and is not a priviledge to only the Ameicans. We have to pay money to even enter your country, pay park entrance fee like you do and support your economy by booking expensive hotels etc. I never met an Ametican hiker with a mindset like yours, so there is hope!
AGREE!
Bill, do you really think foreign visitors are the problem? And wouldn’t it be unAmerican to ban them, or anyone else?
I sense the day has come that the only solution is the same one employed across America: reservations. In the end, we’ll all be better off, as will the parks.
Kurt,
I COMPLETELY agree with Bill -- anyone who has been to YELLOWSTONE and had their enjoyment of the park disrupted by HIGHWAY BUS AFTER HIGHWAY BUS full of FOREIGN visitors (with NO regard for the park, the wildlife, the geo/physical features) would AGREE with Bill. Its gotten SO BAD that we NO LONGER enjoy going to Yellowstone / Grand Tetons because the high volume of FOREIGN visitors. The American people pay the taxes to support these lands set aside long ago. There needs to be additional support to the Law Enforcement staff at ALL National Parks -- and fiscal / budgetary support so they can be properly maintained. Any LIMITS on visitation should START with stemming the FOREIGN visitors -- they have NO inherent right -- and should in NO way be afforded any kind of equal access afforded any American. With that being said -- I also believe we need to limit the number of individual vehicles admitted to the parks -- ala Zion National Park and the bus system they have. The roads in Yellowstone are narrow and overcrowded with vehicles -- there are limited numbers of "pull outs" which contributes to additional visitation problems. Reservations are NOT the answer -- and will only serve to alienate American / U.S. Citizens -- denying the purpose as stated by President Roosevelt -- for the enjoyment of the people (NOT foreigners). Our parks are NOT "WORLD" parks...and are abused by the FOREIGN visitors I have seen in large numbers. A similar experience has been had at ALL of the National Parks I have visited -- to varying degrees. Kurt -- you need to GO to Yellowstone in July or August -- and witness the current conditions.
The problem with foreign visitors is that they have no respect for our parks. They litter, go off trail, etc. Yes, Americans do this too, but the people in these busses seen to have no respect.
I do think that foreign visitors are a big part of the problem. I don't think it's unAmerican to ban foreigners from any benefit that the American People enjoy that is payed for by our tax dollars. I have read that Yeelowstone claims 13% of its visitors are foreign. It may be more than that in other Parks. Who knows? Why should the American People have to share their Parks and pay to support Parks for foreign enjoyment?
Wow..... Just wow. What a small-minded comment Bill. You do understand how tourism works don't you? Some of us 'foreigners' spend lots of our hard earned money in lots of places when we come to visit the wonderful National Parks that the US is lucky to have. (oh & I feel obliged to point out that most 'Americans' are hardly native to the lands where the National Parks are most prevalent, so maybe open your mind a bit & get down off that high horse.
Bill you clearly have no economic sense and are clueless. The impact of millions of dollars spent by foreign visitors to the parks is what helps the entire surrounding economy. They are paying taxes on all the goods and services on everything from their accomodations and food etc. Wake up and smell the coffee!
1. Foreign visitors do still pay entry fees and boost Local tourist economies, so they are contributing to the national parks and American economy, even if not via taxes.
2. National parks and government protected natural wonders are for the benefit of everyone. If you went to hike across Europe, it would suck if a country wouldn’t let you visit somewhere you’ve had on your bucket list just because you don’t pay taxes there. I tend to think of things like National Parks with a global perspective. Sure, the natural wonders fall within the made up boundary lines we’ve set, but they should be available for all to enjoy.
As a canadian "foreigner", I visited Grand Canyon, Zion , Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. In the process of traveling in a 5th wheel rig, I supported the local economy by buying food, fuel, souveniers, campgrounds, park entrance fees, etc. If you lockout foreigners, you better be prepared accept the finanial loss to many businesses. You need to look at the whole picture not just the frame.
For the same reasons Parisians surrender their city every August to Americans?
Forwogn visitors pay entrance fees too. Moreover, theu oay 14 USD to get a travel permit (Esta) to get into the U.S. suppose what it would do to the attractiveness of, say, Venice or Barcelona or Amsterdam if those cities were to lock foreigners out on the spur of the moment. Hotels wpuld go bankrupt becauae of unpaid hotel room reservations. Travel agents woukd go buat. Same in Moab, Springdale etc.
Bill Baher I have been to many of the National Parks in the western U.S. I have always been amazed at the lack of American visitors and the number of foreign visitors. It seems to me the rate of 13% referenced above for foreign visuitors seems low to me.
I personally have no objection to foreign visitors In the National Parks.They spend a lot of money here which provides jobs for more Americans.
Have two tiers of bisotors. Yjose who only want drive by selfies. Orhees who want to hike. Control trail to landscape and delicate arch with permits
Agree. Require a permit, just like a back country permit at some other parks to hike the trails. Hikers use up parking spots a LOT longer than a stop, take a few pictures and continue on visitor.
Just limit the number of "trail permits" and allow people to make reservations for those.
I've been to Arches several times, usually towards the end of September or beginning of October, and never have encountered long entrance lines nor lack of parking. Always beautiful but never a crowded feeling, just lucky maybe?
Bill, do you travel overseas? Would you like to be banned from the attractions in other countries? Fact is the contribution from the Federal tax payer is miniscule. I believe the answer is increasing the entrance fees so that those that are using these attractions, citizen or not, will be the ones paying for them.
At last someone with some comen sense about the problem not this anti foreigner visiting your parks nonsense! We are Brits who have a vacation home in Colorado and love going on road trips in the summer when we’re here and like nothing better than visititing all your beautiful National parks So we buy a National Parks pass every year. Money from tourism is important to the economy of any country no matter how big your country is foreign tourists brings a lot of money in.
They advertise aches non stop... Foreigners out number US visitors... Locals who live there shouldn't need a reservation...
Quit advertising arches so much....
Jarrod - the Arches (and other Utah parks) ad campaign was a state thing. Not much the NPS can do about that.
Since Americans enjoy traveling to foreign countries in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia, I don’t think we want to start banning foreign tourists from our amazing destinations. First trade wars, now tourism wars?! Please!
Ban foreigners? Really? The land is for all humans and creatures to see, not just Americans! Reservations and shuttles, some new trails...all could help, but banning anyone for a reason like nationality is ludicrous. Did you know many countries charge foreigners extra, sometimes 12× the price for locals? This isn't a solution either, people still pay. If you think banning foreigners is a solution, you need to go travel and get out of your box.
Easy solution, shuttles! Just like a lot of other parks.
For chrissakes everyone is going to the same 6 places in the park. Just run shuttles and make people park cars at the engentra and pay to get in and ride the shuttle. Traffic problem = solved without cutting attendance. It is silly for all those individual cars to be there.
When did the purpose of parks become economic? I thought the purpose was to protect special natural resources. If the local economy can benefit to an extent that's great but lets not manage the parks for economic benefit, that will just undermine the whole idea of protecting them.
Slow down, America-First xenophobes.
I want to walk the Great Wall in China, dive the Barrier Reef in Australia, dine at the Eiffel Tower restaurant in Paris, and otherwise visit and enjoy the wonders that would no doubt be cut off to Americans if we follow this exclusionary stupidity.
I absolutely hated Arches and Canyonlands due to people misbehaving at parking (Americans!!). Avoided Yosemite and Zion (Valley) and really loved state parks and other parks.
People are like sheep, they go where the crowds go. Fortunately, we don't. There is so much more!
National Parks are viewed more and more as money generating "attractions" rather than national treasures to be preserved. The experience of visiting these areas become less about the natural beauty of the landscapes and wildlife and more about the social happening. The primary obligation of the National Park Servive is preservation for future generations not economiic enhancement.
Another reason not to ban foreign tourists-Imagine the extra time at the entrance station if everyone has to prove their citizenship. Most Americans don't carry a passport-How do you prove citizenship? Passport? Birth Certificate? Naturalization Papers? Looking or sounding American?
Bill's view certainly does not represent most Americans. Sadly there are a few who feel this way. I can only assume people who think like this have never traveled out of their own country. If they did (and I would highly recommend they do) I am pretty sure their attitudes would quickly change.
"Foreigners" are no different than anyone else. There are both good and bad and sometimes even the good can behave badly in our eyes because of cultural differences. Travel enough and you will quickly understand how easy it is to do something that in another cultures eyes is considered rude or insulting without intending to do so.
I do think there is an opportunity to do a better job educating visitors (both domestic and foreign) as to the do's and don't prior to entering parks, not only as to what is appropriate for wildlife interactions and natural features but in the case of foreign visitors, cultural norms and what is considered good etiquette. Pushing and shoving and crowds is quite normal and accepted in many cultures. Some give no thought to littering (also true among many U.S. citizens). I would propose that tour buses be required to give their group an orientation before they get off the bus and then also be held accountable for the actions of their group.
Finally, to any foreign visitors, don't let comments like Bills stop you from visiting. You are very welcome here and I hope you have a wonderful time.
Unfortunately not everyone can afford travel overseas. I would love to but our income as seniors prohibit that. But we can drive to NP within the states
Foreign visitors at all major parks are a problem, from overcrowding to harrassing wildlife to damaging park resources. Banning them may not be an option, but maybe a stronger permitting system for foreign tour guide companies where tour guides take full responsibility for actions of their customers, including a detailed educational video/brochure that each tourist must view, read and sign acknowledging they understand the park requirements before they can enter a national park. If tourists harrass wildlife fines are paid by the tour host, etc. In addition, fees for all tour guide companies hosting foreign visitors should be increased significantly (5x to 10x what they pay now) to help reduce conjestion and destruction of park reseources.
As one who was almost knocked off the raised walkways and into the hot caldron at Yellowstone by very rude Asians who came in busloads, i think Americans should have first dibs on seeing the parks. Especially Americans who have not yet had the opportunity. I was in my 50s, had paid taxes all my life, and supported the parks as much as I could. And it was my first opportunity. But we literally had to leave. If they weren’t pushing us to the edge of the non railed boardwalk, they were poking us in the face with their parasols. It was, for us, and several others, a terribly disheartening experience. And it kept repeating at all the attractions.
By the way, we’re not “anti-foreigner”. We’re anti-busloads of rowdy, rude people being dropped off to take over an attraction by force of numbers. Incidentally, at another spot in the park, we had to report people from a bus throwing rocks at wildlife! The ones who mistreated us were Asian. So were the rock throwers. But even at another park, the problem seemed to be busloads of young Asian tourists.
I was so dumb I tried smilingly and speaking to them when I first encountered them. None gave me the time of day. I should have known then.
Create parking areas outside the park where you meet shuttles and have only shuttles allowed to go thru the park at certain times of the day like at Zion. The layout of the park is condusive to a shuttle system. The advertising campaign for thenational parks worked all too well. Now, they are being loved to death. No solution is perfect, but the best solution is the one that balances the impact on the environment with the visitor experience.
Last year a elderly Asian women getting off a bus almost knocked my wife to the ground tring to get into the front door of the Lake Yellowstone lodge . I'm sure there are American's that act like that over seas but for some reason it seems some cultures just don't have manners?? I also had a japanese guy give me the finger when i pointed out the sign to stay on the boardwalk at Norris --as he headed towards one of the hot springs to get a "better picture". Stupid people in all cultures.
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