Shutdown costing government $32 million a day in lost fees at national parks, hurting local economies

Peak season has arrived at many national parks, with tourists flocking to the sites to enjoy the fall weather and colors. But with the government shutdown, visitors from all around the world are being turned away, costing the National Park Service an estimated $32 million a day in entrance fees and other revenue, Hugo Martin reports for the Los Angeles Times. Local tourism bureaus are doing their best to try to keep tourists in the area by suggesting they visit other sites. Julie Hadzega, a spokeswoman for the Yosemite-Mariposa County Tourism Bureau in California, told Martin, "We are really trying to convince visitors not to turn around and go home. There's a lot of stuff to do here." (Billings Gazette photo by Larry Mayer: Tourists outside Yellowstone National Park found it closed at the Roosevelt Arch on Tuesday)

Fall is traditionally a booming tourist time at many national parks. During the first week of October Yellowstone usually has 54,000 visits, and more than 138,000 visits for the month, Jan Falstad reports for the Billings Gazette. With the shutdown, surrounding communities stand to lose $5.5 million in revenue this week, and $13.5 if the shutdown last through the month, said park spokesman Al Nash. The National Park Service could lose camping, fishing and entrance fees worth $440,000 for October, and Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the Denver company that runs the concessions in Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, loses nearly $1 million per day while the parks are closed, not including overhead. (Read more)

Another area hit hard by the shutdown is Gatlinburg, Tenn., home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which each day has around 35,000 visitors, more than any other national park. Like Yellowstone, October is one of the park's peak months. "With the shutdown, 279 employees are on furlough, along with 60 concessions employees and 45 Great Smoky Mountains Association employees," Jeff Farrell reports for the Mountain Press in Sevierville. "Forty-seven employees remain on duty, providing security and emergency services." (Read more) (Press photo by Curt Habraken: Sign at the Sugarlands Visitors Center)

For travelers who planned to visit certain national parks, some alternative options within driving distance are suggested by the The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times.