NPS Shares Planned International Group Tour Fee Solutions with Tour Leaders

Last week, NPS officials met with tour association leaders (as well as Brand USA and NTTO) to review their proposed short-term and longer-term solutions for implementation of the international visitor fee and America the Beautiful (ATB) non-resident pass requirements for commercial group tours. 

The short-term solution, targeted for implementation in May, will be to use a commercial entrance fee calculation form (already in use at some parks) that tour operators can prepare in advance based on the fee/pass needs of group and the commercial entrance fee and present to the entrance ranger along with payment and copies of any existing passes.  

While not ideal operationally, this short-term approach is intended to provide a bridge solution while NPS develops a broader digital platform and bulk-purchasing capability. Inbound operators have found this to be an acceptable and efficient way of enabling the passes/fees to be paid by the operator without causing delays at the entrance. 

The long-term implementation, expected in June, would provide the ability for operators to purchase digital passes for their tour groups in advance via Rec.gov. At the same time, operators would be able to pay for the commercial entrance fee. On the surface, this plan would seem viable and preferable.  

However, the issue remains that the ATB pass must be connected to a customer on the tour, so when the tour operator purchases the passes, they would have to enter a customer’s name and email address, which is problematic from an operational and privacy standpoint.  

IITA appreciates the effort NPS and DOI staff are investing in trying to develop workable solutions under an aggressive implementation timeline. 

At the same time, significant legal, operational, technological, and logistical concerns remain regarding whether the current ATB pass structure is the appropriate mechanism for commercial group tours long-term. 

IITA’s Advocacy Committee outlined the reasons the long-term solution was not viable for commercial group tours in a response to DOI/NPS leaders, and offered continued collaboration to find solutions that work for park staff, tour operators and international travelers.  

IITA Continues Advocating for Practical Solutions 

IITA continues to work constructively with NPS and DOI leadership to identify solutions that: 

• support park funding objectives,
• remain operationally feasible for park staff and tour operators,
• minimize entrance delays and visitor confusion,
• and preserve the competitiveness of U.S. National Park itineraries in the global marketplace. 

Importantly, IITA has emphasized that there are several workable alternatives that appear well within NPS’s existing administrative and operational authority, including: 

• commercial group tour voucher or manifest-based systems,
• limited-duration tour credentials, rather than the annual ATB pass,
• expansion of existing wholesale-style pass mechanisms,
• and authorized bulk-purchasing programs for vetted commercial operators. 

These types of operational solutions would better align with how commercial group tours are sold and managed internationally while still allowing NPS to achieve fee collection and accountability goals. 

Continuing Engagement 

IITA leadership and our Advocacy Committee remain in active dialogue with DOI and NPS officials and will continue advocating for practical, workable implementation approaches on behalf of inbound tour operators and the international travel trade. 

We appreciate the willingness of NPS and DOI leadership to continue engaging directly with industry stakeholders as these issues evolve and will keep members updated as additional guidance and operational details emerge.