The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced that foreign tourists who want to visit US national parks will have to pay an additional fee, writes the BBC.
The US Department of the Interior, which is responsible for the country’s national parks, has announced that foreign tourists who want to visit one of the 11 most popular attractions will have to pay a fee of about 100 dollars in addition to the standard entrance fee.
From 2026, all non-US residents will have to pay 250 dollars for an annual entrance ticket, while US residents will continue to buy it for 80 dollars.
The ministry said that the price increase for foreigners is being carried out to “put American families first,” and reflects Trump’s goal of making the parks more accessible to US citizens. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the policy provides access to US taxpayers who already support the National Park System, while foreign visitors will do their part to maintain and preserve the parks for future generations.
The price increases will take effect in early 2026.
They will also offer an improved online reservation system and provide easier access to the parks for motorcyclists. The Interior Department also announced eight days in 2026 when nationals will be free to enter the parks. These include the 25th of May, the 4th of July and the 11th of November.
Trump signed an executive order in July that would raise the price of admission for foreigners visiting national parks. The White House said at the time that the additional revenue would be used to preserve and maintain the parks. At the same time, the Trump administration has planned to significantly cut the budget for parks.
In recent years, record numbers of tourists have visited US national parks, with 331 million tourists visiting the attractions in 2024 alone. Among the most visited US national parks are the Everglades in Florida, Yosemite in California, and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
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