Government Shutdown Causing Headaches for National Park Tour Operators

Above, the government shutdown has closed all national parks, including Zion
National Park in Utah. Pictured above is Zion Lodge.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The government shutdown has caused many agencies so close up shop. That includes the National Park Service, which is a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Republican-led House of Representatives have passed bills authorizing funding for the national parks among other departments and agencies, but the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate is refusing to take up those bills. Around 57 House Democrats have broken ranks and voted with the GOP for the individual funding bills.

According to Travel Pulse, the closure of the National Parks is causing headaches for tour operators:

Ken Burns’ documentary film series may have convinced many Americans that the national parks are “America’s Best Idea,” but under the federal government shutdown, the parks are off limits and tour operators who take clients into the parks are among those immediately affected. 

The national parks shutdown is a huge logistical headache for tour operators on top of their normal work of operating tours. They are calling travel agents and their clients to inform them about the closings and offer them alternatives. Not being able provide what they have received payment for makes tour operators extremely uncomfortable. 

One operator told Travel Pulse that the shutdown is having a negative impact on future bookings, with clients opting out of Western winter ski trips for Costa Rica.

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