Foreign tourists visiting US national parks including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone will now pay a hefty surcharge, the Trump administration announced Tuesday.

The Department of the Interior, which operates the renowned US national parks, said that starting in 2026 visitors from abroad will have to pay $100 on top of the individual park fee to enter 11 of the most popular destinations in the system.

The cost of an annual pass to all the parks will meanwhile more than triple to $250 for non-residents.

"President Trump's leadership always puts American families first," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in a statement.

"These policies ensure that US taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations."

Long considered a jewel of American tourism, the 63 officially designated national parks receive hundreds of millions of visitors a year -- nearly 332 million in 2024, according to the National Park Service.

The standard cost of an "America the Beautiful" pass that offers unlimited annual access is currently a flat $80 for any purchaser.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-slap-big-surcharge-foreign-195900234.html