While there are some differences about the way Australians are charged to enter different national parks … notably the fact that NT residents don’t have to buy a pass to enter most Territory parks … for the most part, it’s a pretty level playing field.
But that’s not to say there have not been calls in some quarters for different levels of charges, including the idea that overseas visitors should have to pay more to buy passes for Australian national parks.
However, a recent Grey Nomads website poll revealed that only 28% of respondents thought it was a good to charge overseas visitors more to visit attractions here than Australians pay.
Stewart Gruneklee wasn’t one of them.
It will soon cost overseas visitors a lot more to visit US national parks. PIC: Linsdsay Williams / Pixabay
“Treat overseas visitors as guests rather than as people to rob,” he said. “Charge the same to reinforce the egalitarian nature of (most of) our people.”
And Ian Stewart said he was put off in China many years ago by being charged more at the Great Wall visiting site.
“But not so my travelling companion, a Chinese Malaysian whose speaking abilities were so good that he convinced them that he was a local,” he said. “This is a deterrent to visitors.”
Kevin Chamberlain agreed.
“I feel it would reduce tourist numbers,” he said. “Australia is not a cheap country to visit.”
While there is no sign of change here, the US has just announced it is to implement a new ‘America first’ policy that will see overseas visitors paying considerably more than US citizens to visit its national parks.
As part of the Administration’s commitment to enhancing access for American residents, the Department of the Interior says it is implementing America-first entry fee policies. It means US residents will continue to enjoy affordable pricing, while non-residents will pay a higher rate to help support the care and maintenance of America’s parks.
Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Annual Pass will cost US$80 for US residents and a whopping US$250 for non-residents.
The Department says this is to ensure that American taxpayers who already support the National Park System receive the greatest benefit. Non-residents without an annual pass will pay a US$100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee.
“President Trump’s leadership always puts American families first,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “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.”
The Department says revenue generated from new fee policies will be invested directly back into America’s national parks, supporting upgrades to visitor facilities, essential maintenance, and improved services nationwide.
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Trying to copy the new American plan for their national parks…..also calling this story Australia first…we are Australia NOT AMERICA….It’s gross and idiotic
Anything that Trump proposes should not be followed, the man is an idiot.
Why on this planet would you want to emulate America or China?
Is it because government employees want to be money grabbing pocket liners?
Every body pays the same, that’s it. I for one would be peed off if I was charged more at a tourist site,because I was a visitor not from that country..
If you visit the NT you are charged more to visit Parks than NT residents.
I don’t believe there should be extra charge for visitors we want them to others that it was a great experience and worth while doing it.
Trump is proposing a $100 fee for USA National Parks for overseas visitors so it must be a bad idea. Why charge visitors more? Does not make any sense at all. Costs enough just to get to Australia!
Trump doesn’t make any sense on anything. Why would we emulate him
Categorically NOT. Just how discriminating are we going to become?
Several south American countries charge foreigners considerably more to visit national parks.
So? Someone else does it so Australia should follow suit? What wonderfully imaginative thinking, charge them more to encourage them to go elsewhere.
How to win friends and influence people.
Australia already has a discriminatory system with national parks. They have separate annual fees for each state, residents pay less or nothing for access, some states have exorbitant camping fees, others close to zero, some have senior concessions, others not.
As does the Northern Territory if you visit their Parks and you are not an NT resident.
Great way to deter people from visiting: penalise them for daring to do so!
“America First” will become the “Americans Only” as the ludicrous attempts to impose onerous difficulties on o/s visitors. Will serve that country right for being so head in the sand as shown by their strumpet president.
What a load of baloney. We want visitors?Then make them feel welcome for heavens sake – same charge (if any) for all. Blimin penny pinching bumbling bureaucrats.
We are constantly hearing now about the over population of our National Parks, and about having to limit the numbers of visitors, so as a consequence of charging the same for local and overseas tourists it is likely that locals (with less money) will be forced out of our popular National Parks by overseas tourists.
National parks are set aside as somewhere a person can get close to nature, and stay cheaply in a true camping situation.
I am disgusted at the charges the govt is already imposing on these parks for Australians let alone the thought of charging tourists more. How much more can they charge. They are already equal to most caravan parks but without the facilities. I think their aim is to make it too expensive for everybody so we will all go to the caravan parks and they won’t have to spend time and money on maintenance.
I strongly resent having to pay extra (a Tax) to visit NT Parks, solely because I am a visitor! That to me is not a “Welcome to the Territory”.
What Xenophobe has suggested that? What a disgustingly unAustralian thing to consider.
Surely that would contravene anti-discrimination legislation.