Museums, Zoos and Parks NAICS 7121

Jan 21, 2026 - Foreign Visitor Fees Rise in 2026

• The National Park Service (NPS) will introduce higher fees for foreign visitors starting January 1, 2026, as part of an effort to strengthen park funding, according to a report by Spectrum News. The policy applies a $100 surcharge for international visitors at 11 of the most visited national parks, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and increases the foreign annual pass to $250, while the US annual pass remains unchanged at $80. Supporters estimate the changes could generate hundreds of millions of dollars to help address the system’s maintenance backlog. The policy also presents potential visitation risks. The US is projected to be the only country among 184 surveyed to experience a decline in foreign visitor spending in 2025, raising concerns that higher fees could further dampen demand. NPS leadership, however, expects total visitation to rebound in 2026, supported by increased travel tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
• The US museums, zoos, and parks industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.86% between 2025 and 2029, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. Spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors largely drives the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Consumer confidence is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone the improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.

• Museums and zoos are facing their weakest financial outlook since the pandemic, according to the American Alliance of Museums’ 2025 Annual National Snapshot. The survey of 511 directors found 55% of institutions still below 2019 visitor levels, up from 49% last year, while 29% reported attendance declines in 2025 tied to economic uncertainty and reduced tourism. Financial performance also slipped, with only 52% reporting stronger results than pre pandemic, down from 57% in 2024. Federal funding cuts have compounded pressures: 34% lost grants or contracts, and two thirds of those losses remain unreplaced, forcing 24% to cancel student and community programs and 21% to defer facility improvements.
• While five services industries reported contraction in December, 11 industries reported growth, including the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry, according to an ISM Services PMI Report. Executives in the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation industry reported an increase in new orders, employment, imports, new export orders, and inventories, along with a decrease in business activity in December. Other industries reporting growth during the period were Finance & Insurance; Accommodation & Food Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Mining; Health Care & Social Assistance; Information; Retail Sector; Wholesale Trade; Public Administration; and Utilities. Industries reporting contraction during the period include Management of Companies & Support Services; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Educational Services; and Construction. Overall economic activity in the services sector continued to expand in December, registering 54.4%.