Trump signs executive order calling for foreign tourists to pay higher national park fees

AI Overview

 

Under a policy from the Trump administration, foreign visitors to 11 of the most popular US national parks will be charged an additional $100 surcharge, effective 2026

. The goal is to generate revenue for park maintenance and improvement while keeping access affordable for American families, who will still pay standard entry fees. 

• New fees: A $100 surcharge will be applied to international visitors for entry into 11 national parks.
• Annual pass: The cost of an annual pass for non-residents will increase to
  $250$ 250

  $250
  .
• Rationale: The administration stated that this policy helps ensure that US taxpayers, who already support the parks, can continue to enjoy affordable access.
• Implementation: The surcharge is set to take effect in 2026

 

Sounds about right.

How can they tell if someone is a foreigner?

Who's bitching?

One zero is missing, in Thailand if would be 150 USD x 10, hence 1500$. Amateurs.

Are foreigners visiting the U.S. these days?

 

I know a number who have canceled plans to do so and a couple of Americans who have canceled planned visits with their Thai spouse and American/Thai children.

34 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are foreigners visiting the U.S. these days?

 

I know a number who have canceled plans to do so and a couple of Americans who have canceled planned visits with their Thai spouse and American/Thai children.

Do tell. Was in NYC earlier this year and it was packed with visitors.

26 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Do tell. Was in NYC earlier this year and it was packed with visitors.

Can you share with us the figures you are relying on to compare how packed it was this year compared to last year?

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

How can they tell if someone is a foreigner?

From their ID. 

 

Foreigners already pay more; the price is just going up a bit. 

 

11 minutes ago, Alan Zweibel said:

Can you share with us the figures you are relying on to compare how packed it was this year compared to last year?

I was sharing my personal experience from my week stay in NYC. I'll leave it to you to post graphs.

Call it what it is. Racist pricing.

42 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Do tell. Was in NYC earlier this year and it was packed with visitors.

And of course, you ask everybody comes from

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

And of course, you ask everybody comes from

Are you not able to tell locals from visitors in Australia without asking? 

 

I can generally tell Europeans from Americans in Bangkok just from looking. 

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are foreigners visiting the U.S. these days?

 

I know a number who have canceled plans to do so and a couple of Americans who have canceled planned visits with their Thai spouse and American/Thai children.

 

Course you do. 😄

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Are you not able to tell locals from visitors in Australia without asking? 

 

I can generally tell Europeans from Americans in Bangkok just from looking. 

Oh, I see all Americans are red indians 

Yes, I've always thought the whinging was a bit of a storm in a teacup here in Thailand. In addition to the OP report, other countries also do the same. India charges more for visitors to national sites, like a fort in Chennai I went to once. Unless they are charging 10-20 times more, so what? You can't pay an extra dollar or two over what a local who earns a pittance pays in their own country?

5 hours ago, gargamon said:

Stop bitching about dual pricing for foreigners 

Not me. 

 

 

Just charge Thais etc. That’ll teach them. 😜

31 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I can generally tell Europeans from Americans in Bangkok just from looking. 

 

I hear people say this quite often.  If one is JUST looking how does one confirm their guess of which nationality they actually are?
Do you ask to see their passport with sign language? 
If I hear the person speaking I can generally tell Europeans from North Americans. I think most people who are not from North America would have difficulty distinguishing the American and Canadian accents. But only looking would be very difficult. Canadians and Europeans loathe being mistaken for Yanks. 
Side note: my Thai friends like to say they can distinguish between other asian nationalities until I point them to the quiz on this website. 
https://alllooksame.com/app/quiz.php?tid=1
Rarely do they get higher than 50% correct "just by looking".

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

How can they tell if someone is a foreigner?

 

Non-resident I believe is the criteria, I would assume a US drivers license or ID would be the decider. If all you have is a passport, then obviously you would pay more.

6 minutes ago, noserious said:

Canadians and Europeans loathe being mistaken for Yanks. 

A lot of the yanks don't like being recognized as yanks too. Some even put Canadian flags on their clothes/luggage.

5 hours ago, gargamon said:

Trump signs executive order calling for foreign tourists to pay higher national park fees

AI Overview

 

Under a policy from the Trump administration, foreign visitors to 11 of the most popular US national parks will be charged an additional $100 surcharge, effective 2026

. The goal is to generate revenue for park maintenance and improvement while keeping access affordable for American families, who will still pay standard entry fees. 

 

• New fees: A $100 surcharge will be applied to international visitors for entry into 11 national parks.
• Annual pass: The cost of an annual pass for non-residents will increase to
  $250$ 250

  $250
  .
• Rationale: The administration stated that this policy helps ensure that US taxpayers, who already support the parks, can continue to enjoy affordable access.
• Implementation: The surcharge is set to take effect in 2026

 

Another illegal order. He does not have the right to set fee schedules.

 

Yet another reason for tourists to go elsewhere. Many 2025 visitors already had bookings, in 2026 they will not be booking again. Trump is a moron.

An off topic troll post was removed. Please debate the subject politely. Thank you. 

A policy implemented by a man who has likely never visited a national park in his entire lifetime. Just because the US does it, doesn't mean it's right. 

30 minutes ago, noserious said:

I hear people say this quite often.  If one is JUST looking how does one confirm their guess of which nationality they actually are?
Do you ask to see their passport with sign language? 

You see them and guess, then once you hear them talking it pretty much confirms. 

30 minutes ago, noserious said:

If I hear the person speaking I can generally tell Europeans from North Americans. I think most people who are not from North America would have difficulty distinguishing the American and Canadian accents. But only looking would be very difficult.

Canadian and US speech and is pretty different, as are many areas of the US. 

30 minutes ago, noserious said:

Canadians and Europeans loathe being mistaken for Yanks. 

I hear people say this quite often, but how does on confirm this is true?

 

People from the south would loathe being mistaken for Yanks as well. 

 

30 minutes ago, noserious said:

 

Side note: my Thai friends like to say they can distinguish between other asian nationalities until I point them to the quiz on this website. 
https://alllooksame.com/app/quiz.php?tid=1
Rarely do they get higher than 50% correct "just by looking".

Given there are 48 Asian countries, 50% correct is pretty good. 

1 hour ago, still kicking said:

Oh, I see all Americans are red indians 

 

 

He probably thinks so.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

A policy implemented by a man who has likely never visited a national park in his entire lifetime. Just because the US does it, doesn't mean it's right. 

He did not implement the policy; he is just raising the price. 

 

And the White House is a National Park, which I guess shows how much you know about it.

 

Did he not also go to Gettysburg a few times? Did you not know that was a park either? 

31 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Another illegal order. He does not have the right to set fee schedules.

He has the right to tell his staff to raise the price. 

 

 

31 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

 

Yet another reason for tourists to go elsewhere. Many 2025 visitors already had bookings, in 2026 they will not be booking again. Trump is a moron.

Once the "tourists" find out they have to go home they quit coming. 

 

A lot fewer Americans are visiting Europe as well.

I am in complete agreement with dual pricing for foreigners... in any country.  (Yes, some of us have/had businesses and paid taxes. But relatively few of us, compared with the yearly tourist trade.)

Locals pay taxes all their lives. Those taxes help support national parks. When visitors come, shouldn't they, too, help support the attraction they wish to visit? Of course they should pay more than locals!  
I lived in a New England state for 25 years, 50 years ago. The cost of a resident hunting/fishing license was $7.00. The cost of an out-of-state combined license was $50. The state was not all that interested in drawing in out-of-state hunters.

That said, considering the fact that Thailand's major economic draw is tourism, perhaps Thailand does go a bit overboard on what they think foreigners should pay.

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are foreigners visiting the U.S. these days?

 

I know a number who have canceled plans to do so and a couple of Americans who have canceled planned visits with their Thai spouse and American/Thai children.

 

Seems Trump is following the Thai example - when demand drops, raise prices.

 

foreign travel to the USA is declining in 2025, with projections indicating a significant drop in international visitors and spending compared to previous years. This trend is attributed to various factors, including political climate and rising travel costs. (AI)

 

International Visits (March 2025) 14% decline -14% vs March 2024

 

https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/united-states-tourism-statistics/