Tour Associations Jointly Call for Adequate National Park Staffing
IITA brought together six travel associations to send a joint letter to members of Congress to share industrywide concern about the implications of the administration’s numerous federal employee directives for the National Park Service and the ability for our national parks to operate functionally. The letter was co-signed by IITA and the American Bus Association, Adventure Travel Trade Association, National Tour Association, Student & Youth Travel Association, United Motorcoach Association and the United States Tour Operators Association.
“Our national parks that are so important to our businesses are also critical to the nation’s economy,” the letter stated. “We urge you to reach out to Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior, to convey our concerns and request that the National Park Service be exempted from these federal worker directives.”
Yesterday, the National Park Service reported a record-setting 331,863,358 visits in 2024. This comes at the heels of the recent 9% cut to the National Park Service workforce and continued uncertainty. The National Parks Conservation Association found this robust visitation to be at extreme odds with the ongoing dismantling of America’s park legacy and issued this press statement: National Park Service Sets Visitation Record Amid Historic Staffing Cuts · National Parks Conservation Association.
In addition to eliminating 1,000 probationary staff, freezing vacant permanent positions and delaying the hiring of seasonal employees, the administration has also called for canceling 34 Park Service building leases that house visitor centers, law enforcement offices, museums and hubs for critical programs, including Klondike Gold Rush Historical Site in downtown Seattle and the San Antonio Missions law enforcement facility.
IITA also signed on to a joint letter spearheaded by NPCA and signed by more than 500 organizations opposing workforce reductions at public land management agencies.
IITA members are encouraged to reach out to their members of Congress and urge them to contact Secretary Burgum to request that national parks be exempted from staffing reductions.
The permanent and seasonal staff are critical for managing seasonals and other staff, operating visitor centers and campgrounds, maintaining grounds, ensuring visitor safety, educating the public, and more. They also ensure the protection of the natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources that make these places special and draw visitors from throughout the world.