Foreign visitor surcharge at US national parks generates only a quarter of projected revenue
Six months after the United States began charging higher fees to overseas tourists at its most visited parks, the program has collected about $22.5 million, roughly 25% of the $90 million expected for the first year.
An "America-first" pricing plan for foreign tourists at select US national parks began on Jan. 1, adding a $100 surcharge per person and raising the annual America the Beautiful pass to $250. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reported that, half a year later, the surcharge has generated $22,531,075, about one-quarter of the $90 million the Trump administration projected for its first year. The fee targets eleven of the busiest parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion, and was justified as a way to preserve park access for American families.
Five Senate Democrats, led by Alex Padilla, Catherine Cortez Masto and Ron Wyden, have contested the surcharge, claiming it violates the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and raises privacy questions about residency checks. Implementation has caused delays at park entrances, and the decline in international visits to the US further hampers revenue expectations. The Congressional Research Service highlighted the difficulty of tracking international visitor numbers, leaving Burgum’s figures as the only available data.
Why it matters
The shortfall reveals challenges in funding US parks through foreign tourist fees amid declining international travel.
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