The National Park Service has dropped plans to impose controversial admission fees and new commercial use authorization regulations for 2020.
While awaiting formal confirmation, a coalition of travel organizations has been apprised that David Vela, deputy director exercising the authority of director for the National Park Service, has stated the new commercial use authorization (CUA) requirements planned for 2020 will not be implemented.
NPS has been consulting on the changes with organizations including the United Motorcoach Association, International Motorcoach Group, American Bus Association, National Tour Association, Ontario Motor Coach Association, Interel Group, Trailways and United States Tour Operators Association.
Vela further apprised there will be changes to the CUA program in the future. He indicated the CUA permit fees will likely be lower than $300, and group tours will not be subject to the per-person entrance fees. He also indicated future plans likely will require commercial tour operators to pay vehicle entrance fees similar to those charged automobiles.
Based on the extensive input from the travel coalition group, the National Park Service apparently determined the proposed CUA program and fee structure was neither feasible for the bus and motorcoach charter and tour industry nor staff members at many parks.
The NPS further noted that should any changes be implemented in 2020, it will likely be later in the year.
This means bus and motorcoach travel groups should continue to expect to face the CUAs that are already required for the start of the 2020 season, which of course includes the existing application and fees. We are also advised the planned online application will not be available on Jan. 1, 2020, as originally planned.
The news comes just as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted in favor of the Restore Our Parks Act (S.500) that when fully passed by both houses will address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service that the much-disparaged expanded use of CUAs was intended to address.
