NP Fees To Be Increased For Non Citizens

[Oldgator73]

Evidently an EO was signed to increase fees at National Parks for non citizens. There’s no timeline for the increase to start or what the increase will be.

 

[UTTransplant]

I am wondering how they will tell who is a citizen and who is not. Will everyone have to carry passports around? What about people who don’t have id? I am not at all sure this can be done in a reasonable way.

 

[Tom]

Evidently an EO was signed to increase fees at National Parks for non citizens.

That's not what the EO says; The increase applies "only for foreign tourists".

 

[Tom]

I am wondering how they will tell who is a citizen and who is not. Will everyone have to carry passports around? What about people who don’t have id? I am not at all sure this can be done in a reasonable way.

Citizenship is not a criteria. Presumably, someone visiting a NP would be driving and have a drivers license. I'd think that a drivers license from any US state would suffice to identify folks who are not "foreign tourists".

 

[Oldgator73]

That's not what the EO says; The increase applies to "foreign tourists".

Aren’t foreign tourists non citizens?

 

[Tom]

Aren’t foreign tourists non citizens?

Yes, but many non-citizens are residents, and therefore not foreign tourists.

 

[Oldgator73]

Citizenship is not a criteria. Presumably, someone visiting a NP would be driving and have a drivers license. I'd think that a drivers license from any US state would suffice to identify folks who are not "foreign tourists".

It was stated that “Americans” would come first.

Yes, but many non-citizens are residents, and therefore not foreign tourists.

It seems to be very vague as to how this will be handled at the gate. My son in law is not an American citizen. He has a green card and he has a drivers license. If he decides to visit a NP he becomes a tourist and since he is not an American citizen would he not be classified as a foreign tourist. He holds a Bahamian passport.

 

[Tom]

It was stated that “Americans” would come first.

It seems to be very vague as to how this will be handled at the gate. My son in law is not an American citizen. He has a green card and he has a drivers license. If he decides to visit a NP he becomes a tourist and since he is not an American citizen would he not be classified as a foreign tourist. He holds a Bahamian passport.

Irrespective what passport(s) he holds, the green card says he's a legal permanent resident of the U.S., not a foreign tourist.

 

[Oldgator73]

Irrespective what passport(s) he holds, the green card says he's a legal permanent resident of the U.S., not a foreign tourist.

It will be interesting (or not) to see how this is managed. I would posit not very well.

 

[Wasillaguy]

There's a long list of countries that have had tourist taxes for years.
We already paid/pay for our parks through other taxation, so I don't have a big problem with foreign tourists paying a little more. If you want to golf where you're not a member, the fee is higher. If you're not a Good Sam member, a campsite costs more. If you are not a resident of a given state, it costs more to fish.

 

[Tom]

To Wasillaguy's point, we spend our summers in the WY & ID mountains; When I fish, any given stream can and does meander in and out of both states. I have no issue buying non-resident fishing licenses for both WY & ID.

 

[Oldgator73]

I don’t have a problem with non residents paying more. We don’t pay because of our age. Our son doesn’t pay because he’s a 100% disabled veteran. We are headed to Mt Rushmore, Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons this week. I understand you have to have a timed reservation to enter some of this parks.
I know the increased fees will affect some of the folks on this forum. Hopefully the increased fees won’t be excessive.

 

[TonyL]

As a foreign visitor and tourist, I fully understand that if American tax dollars are being used to help fund National parks, it's fair that the people paying tax should get it cheaper than me.
I'm just not sure (and am willing to be corrected) whether any other countries check a visitors country of origin before charging them an increased entrance fee?
When we used to visit Canada regularly, the park pass was the same cost whether Canadian or not, and I'm watching to see whether this will change.
I'm also seeing governments and local authorities (including those here in the UK) adding Tourist tax to all visitors, national or foreign, under the guise of improving local services, when most sensible people will know it for what it is, fleecing. I'll bet authorities will never show exactly what revenue was gained, and account where it was spent.
We read that currently tourism from outside of the US is down from previous years, especially from Canada and Europe, but doesn't the revenue (or potential lack of it) taxes paid on hotels, fuel, etc and dollars spent locally help?
PS, there's no escaping that the "America the Beautiful" pass is an absolute bargain, foreign or not.
Just my two penneth

 

[John From Detroit]

I have not done any international camping but in the USA I know State, County and local (City) parks often have different rates depending on if you pay them taxes,

 

[Tom]

... seeing governments and local authorities (including those here in the UK) adding Tourist tax to all visitors,...

There's a move afoot to reinstate toll booths on the West end of the Severn bridge. Welsh residents will be able to acquire a transponder giving free access to their country.

 

[RRR]

I have never been a fan of the out-of-state fees for camping, even though Oregon has done it foe years. Then other states follow with retaliation fees, while promoting tourism in their state.

 

[Tom]

I have never been a fan of the out-of-state fees for camping, even though Oregon has done it foe years. Then other states follow with retaliation fees, while promoting tourism in their state.

We never had an issue with Oregon fees. Their state parks have (had?) the biggest and nicest RV sites.

 

[garyb1st]

This is a double edged sword. International tourism is already down in many States. Could make access to National Parks easier for residents but it could also have a negative effect on local businesses that rely on tourism.

 

[Jackiemac]

Because we use the America the Beautiful pass a reasonable amount I would have no problem paying more if it is used for the infrastructure as the order suggests. Double would be ok but more than that might be excessive for many.

 

[Primerump]

Citizenship is not a criteria. Presumably, someone visiting a NP would be driving and have a drivers license. I'd think that a drivers license from any US state would suffice to identify folks who are not "foreign tourists".

I have the senior lifetime pass, last visit to a NP I was asked to present my DL to verify ownership of said pass.