President Trump signs order to increase foreign tourist fees

President Donald Trump says he is putting "America First" by signing a new executive order that will increase fees on foreign visitors.

Accordingly, foreign tourists visiting America's world-famous national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone will have to pay higher fees. "I just signed an executive order to increase entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans," President Trump said at a rally in Iowa on July 3. "National parks will be for America first," he affirmed.

US President Donald Trump made the announcement at a rally in Iowa

PHOTO: AP

Mr Trump has also ordered the US National Park Service (NPS) to ensure that Americans have priority access in reservation systems.

The White House said the additional foreign money would be used to improve park infrastructure and conservation projects, the latest announcement in President Trump’s controversial plan to upend the national park system.

His fiscal year 2026 budget proposes cutting more than $1 billion in federal funding for the National Park Service (nearly 40 percent of the agency's current budget), which National Parks Conservation Association president Theresa Pierno described as "catastrophic."

The White House said the proposed budget would "continue to support many national treasures, but there is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer some assets to state management to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the national park system."

Tourists at Grand Canyon National Park

PHOTO: ISTOCK

The NPS oversees 433 sites in the National Park System, with parks in every state.

More than 1,000 park employees were laid off in February. Ms. Pierno said in an update last week that the NPS has lost 24 percent of its permanent staff, nearly a quarter of its workforce, since Mr. Trump took office.

Entrance fees to national parks in the United States vary widely. Currently, popular sites like Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Yellowstone National Park charge $20 per person or $35 per vehicle.

Some national parks do not charge entrance fees, and under Mr Trump’s order the fee increase will only affect those that do. It is not yet clear when the fees will increase and by how much, according to news.com.au.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-trump-ky-lenh-tang-phi-du-khach-nuoc-ngoai-185250710111755374.htm