NTA Receives Fee Increase Notification from National Park Service

February 23, 2006

NTA Receives Fee Increase Notification from National Park Service
February 23, 2006 The National Park Service has announced public participation and notification guidelines for its entrance fee program. Twenty-three national park sites will be increasing entrance fees in 2006 following an increase at 17 sites in July 2005. Due to NTA’s diligent efforts and work with park officials, the new program specifically recognizes a plan for notifying tour operators of any fee rate changes that affect their business.

 

"It is rewarding to work with our park service partners on fee or management regulations before they are locked in," NTA Legislative Counsel Jim Santini said. "This opportunity for timely input has averted serious financial and operational hardships for NTA tour operator members."

 

NTA has continually advocated for equitable and reasonable entrance/user fees, ensuring that all visitors, whether traveling individually or with a tour group, have equal access to the national parks. The new revenues generated will contribute to capital improvements, maintenance requirements and expenses.

 

NTA and NPS have had an unspoken agreement for many years that tour operators should be notified at least 12 months prior to a fee increase. The new fee program guidelines now specifically outline this practice, ensuring all tour operators, not just NTA tour operators, must "be given one year of notice of any fee rate changes that affect them."

 

NTA will continue to work with NPS to clarify the proposed group entrance fee pricing for 2007. In the meantime, member questions and suggestions are welcomed by NTA on this vital issue of doing business with the national parks. Comments can be sent to NTA Government and Industry Relations Director Matt Grayson at matt.grayson@ntastaff.com.

 

The National Tour Association was established in 1951 as a unified voice to fight legislation in the newly formed packaged travel industry. Today, NTA’s government relations activities include monitoring security issues, as well as state and federal legislation and regulatory issues affecting the travel and tourism industry. NTA maintains full-time representation in Washington, D.C., to serve as the association’s voice on Capitol Hill. Additionally, NTA empowers its members to be advocates for the association on the local level, as well as to provide support for NTA’s positions on national priority issues through its Grassroots Action Network. For more information on NTA’s government relations activities, please visit http://preseason.ntaonline.com/www.NTAonline.com.

 

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