Protecting America’s Treasures by Raising Inflow from Overseas Tourists (PATRIOT) Parks Act

Higher National Park fees for international visitors

This bill would add a new surcharge on National Park entrance fees for international visitors. An international visitor means a nonimmigrant admitted under INA 101(a)(15)(B) or INA 217. Parks would set the amount to raise money while keeping visits strong. The Secretary could suspend, modify, or use tiered pricing. For per‑vehicle fees, the Park Service would set rules to collect the surcharge proportionally from international visitors. The surcharge could be collected at gates or through approved travel vendors. Money from entrance surcharges would stay at that park for maintenance, staffing, and visitor services. A separate surcharge would also apply when international visitors buy National Parks or Federal Recreational Lands Passes. The Secretary could raise that pass surcharge over time. Those proceeds would go to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. No surcharge would apply to the Washington Monument. At designated International Peace Parks, nationals of a partner country would not be charged when entering from a U.S. entry point. These surcharges would be in addition to any visa fees and would not be run by State or Homeland Security.