Yellowstone National Park counted a record number of visitors last year, but is that necessarily a good thing/Patrick Cone
Yellowstone National Park rewrote its record book in terms of visitation in 2016, although Superintendent Dan Wenk realizes that's not necessarily a good thing.
In a release, park officials said Yellowstone's visitation last year reached 4,257,177, for a 3.89 percent increase from 4,097,710 in 2015 and a 21.17 percent increase over visits in 2014. Those numbers really stand out when you realize that a century ago, just 35,849 visitors came to the park once automobiles were allowed to enter. Even 50 years ago, the annual visitation stood at a comparatively small 2.1 million.
“During the busiest times of the year, visitation levels in the park have led to long lines, traffic congestion, diminishing visitor experiences, and impacts on park resources,” said Superintendent Wenk. “It’s our job to recognize the trend, how it’s affecting this magnificent park, understand our visitors, and what we may need to do to protect Yellowstone for future generations. All options are on the table.”
Across the National Park System, the record visitation noticed in 2016 and even 2015 have more and more superintendents uttering the words "carrying capacity" in terms of how many visitors their parks can accommodate without having unacceptable impacts on not only the resources but also the visitor experience. Last August, staff in Yellowstone conducted social science studies to better understand visitors, including their demographics, experiences, opinions, and preferences. The data will help park managers make decisions that reflect the experiences and needs of visitors both in the present and in the future. The results of the study are expected this spring.
One of the most notable changes in Yellowstone's visitation trends in recent years has been the number of commercial tour buses entering Yellowstone’s gates. The number of buses entering in 2016 was 12,778, which was a 21.3 percent increase over 2015 entries and a 46.5 percent increase over the number of buses in 2014. Park management is currently considering options for commercial tour bus management.
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The bus tour companies should be charged an expensive entrance fee and then give American citizens free entrance. The magnificence of Yellowstone is not as appreciated by foreigners who defficate and urinate on the side of roads. Many Americans can't even appreciate the beauty of the park because they can't afford the fees and they get overrun by the obnoxious busses. Anyone who does not follow the rules should be given a stiff fine.