GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, AZ (AZFamily) — Right now, anyone can buy an annual national park pass for $80. However, starting in January, foreign tourists will be paying three times as much, or an extra $100, at the entrance gates.
Local businesses surrounding these national parks tell us they’re already dealing with a lack of foreign visitors.
At hotels like the Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan, international tourists make up a good portion of their customers.
Julie Aldaz has been the general manager at the hotel for 15 years. She said with the government shutdown and international tourism already down, it’s hurt their business.
“We’re about 15 to 18% down from last year,” she said. “25 to 35% were international travel.”
Now businesses like hers are worried about losing more foreign visitors as the yearly pass for them is jumping from $80 to $250 or an additional $100 at entry gates.
“It’s making us look not very international friendly,” Aldaz said.
The park service announced the fee increase last week, saying this is an America First policy. It follows an executive order from President Trump in July to increase foreign fees at national parks.
The Grand Canyon gets 14% of its almost 5 million visitors from other countries, according to payment card services company Visa.
Steve Hammack was visiting the park with his wife. She is here legally on a visa but is not yet a U.S. citizen. So he’s not a fan of the new change.
“It’s certainly going to discourage people from seeing the canyon,” Hammack said. “No doubt about it. There’s better ways to spend that extra $100. An increase like that’s just beyond what it needs to be.”
Aldaz said she doesn’t know what the answer is but she hopes this won’t push away needed tourists.
“I appreciate the America First movement but at the same time, are we doing it to alienate other nationalities, international visitors that would want to come?” she said. “So it’s kind of scary.”
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