Kalispell chamber on Glacier Park's proposed fee increases

The following letter was sent to Glacier National Park superintendent Jeff Mow by Joe Unterreiner, president and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

________

On behalf of the 650 members of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau, thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed fee increases to Glacier National Park.

The businesses and organizations t hat comprise the Kalispell Chamber employ over half of the workforce in Flathead County, Montana. Because of the 2.2 million annual visitors to Glacier Park, and because of its iconic role as a brand for the region and state, the Kalispell Chamber has a vital interest in the Park’s overall health, viability and sustainability.

That is why we encourage you to revise the proposed fee schedule to have a similar percentage increase for both the annual pass and the 7-day pass. The Plan proposes an entrance fee increase of 20 percent on a summer 7-day pass, but a whopping 71 percent increase on annual passes.

This fee structure puts an unfair and disproportionate burden on Flathead Valley and Montana residents. Montana-resident visitation to the Park has trended around 14 percent of total visitation (Dimond and Freimund, University of Montana, 2009).

Many in this group favor the annual pass. A strategy that increases the entrance fee for the 7-day pass slightly higher than proposed, and which is preferred by the 86 percent of visitors, will give the Park the financial outcomes it seeks without a drastic increase to the price of an annual pass.

It has the added benefit of mitigating the risk of losing Park attendance from annual pass purchasers who may be unable to afford such a large increase and who are more likely to use the Park during off peak seasons. Furthermore, entire categories are omitted from the Plan, such as the Senior Pass, $10 lifetime.

Visitors to Glacier National Park spend an estimated $179 million per year and support 2,824 jobs in the local area. At the same time, the younger demographic the National Park Service endeavors to attract is the one that has been severely impacted by the economic downtown.

Anything that the Park Service can do to moderate rates and still achieve its revenue goals will benefit overall visitation, appreciation for our National Parks, and the local economy.