National Parks Fee Legislation Advances in House; Industry Coalition Engages Lawmakers
A significant development occurred this week in the ongoing discussion surrounding international visitor fees at America's National Parks and public lands.
The House Natural Resources Committee introduced legislation – Great American Outdoors Act 250 (GAOA 250) – to reauthorize the National Parks and Federal Lands Legacy Restoration Fund which provides $1.9 billion funding for deferred maintenance and repairs. The legislation includes provisions that would codify and expand the international visitor fee program currently being implemented by the Department of the Interior.
While the legislation remains in draft form and could change as it moves through the legislative process, it represents the most substantial congressional action on this issue to date.
What the Draft Would Do
Among other provisions, the draft legislation would:
- Require international visitors to pay an additional fee of no less than $100 per person at federal recreational sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.
- Establish a non-resident America the Beautiful Pass costing no less than $250.
- Expand the fee requirement beyond the current 11 National Parks collecting non-resident fees to include all applicable federal recreational lands and waters.
An earlier draft included a $20 increase to the $80 annual America the Beautiful pass, which has not been increased since 2007. However, notably, the legislation does not include increasing commercial vehicle entrance fees, which had previously been considered by the Committee.
IITA's Position
IITA continues to support efforts to address deferred maintenance needs across America's National Parks and public lands. America's public lands are among our nation's greatest assets and are a primary driver of international travel to the United States.
However, IITA opposes congressional codification and expansion of the international visitor surcharge at this time.
Our concerns center on three primary issues:
- Operational Challenges Remain Unresolved
The National Park Service continues to work on implementation solutions, including bulk purchasing options for commercial tour operators and more efficient processing mechanisms for organized groups.
While progress has been made through ongoing discussions between industry representatives and Department of the Interior and NPS officials, those solutions have not yet been implemented or tested.
IITA believes Congress should allow the Department to complete development of those solutions before permanently codifying and expanding the program. - Economic Impact on International Travel
The proposed minimum fee amounts of $100 for the per person, per park surcharge and $250 for a Non-Resident America the Beautiful Pass reduce future flexibility to adapt the program based on operational experience, economic conditions, visitor behavior, or lessons learned during implementation. Increased costs and complexity may influence traveler decision-making, itinerary planning, and visitation patterns, particularly among price-sensitive international markets. - Expansion Beyond Current Parks
The draft legislation would extend the international visitor fee requirement beyond the 11 National Parks currently designated under the Administration's program, potentially affecting a much broader range of federal recreational sites.
The Department of the Interior and National Park Service are actively working to address implementation challenges, and IITA believes Congress should allow those efforts to be completed and evaluated before embedding the program in statute.
Congressional Activity Underway
A House Natural Resources Committee field hearing is scheduled in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Friday (June 12) and committee staff are actively reviewing stakeholder feedback.
IITA and its association coalition partners sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee leadership, members, and staff to communicate the industry's concerns and advocate for a more practical approach that addresses park funding needs without creating unnecessary operational challenges or barriers to international visitation.
At the same time, IITA is supporting a separate Senate effort to extend the highly successful National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund through S. 1547, the America the Beautiful Act. That bipartisan legislation would continue funding for critical deferred maintenance projects without relying on expanded international visitor surcharges.
What Happens Next?
This remains a rapidly evolving situation.
The House draft may be amended, revised, or substantially changed as it moves through the legislative process. Meanwhile, discussions continue between industry stakeholders, the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and Congressional leadership regarding implementation of the current fee program and long-term funding solutions.
IITA will continue to advocate for workable solutions that support America's National Parks while protecting international visitation, gateway communities, and the businesses that depend on inbound travel.