Although the federal government is presently shut down, tours around the national park are still happening. Most parks are open to visitors, and tour operators report that their plans are moving forward seamlessly with neither delays nor cancellations.
Leading travel companies, including Tauck, Intrepid Travel, and the Globus family of brands, confirmed that their national park tours have not been affected by the shutdown. Tauck emphasized that their park tours have operated as scheduled, with no changes necessary to their itineraries. Xanterra, a key concessionaire for several parks, continues to maintain public amenities, such as restrooms, in key areas.
Parks like Zion, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Yosemite, and Sequoia are operating without interruption. This smooth operation contrasts with the effects of the shutdown seen in other sectors.
Gateway communities near national parks have experienced varying effects. In Utah, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity has provided funding to keep visitor centers open at the state’s five national parks. As a result, Zion National Park has maintained steady visitor numbers, according to the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office.
However, some areas, like Montana’s Big Sky region, have reported a noticeable dip in tourism. While Big Sky typically sees slower traffic during this time of year, the shutdown may have exacerbated the decline, with many travelers mistakenly assuming the parks are closed. Local tourism leaders in Big Sky have noted that perceptions around park accessibility might be a major factor in the decrease of visitors.
In contrast to the downturn in certain areas, some regions are actually seeing more activity. For instance, Intrepid’s Urban Adventures day tours in Washington, D.C., have seen an uptick in popularity. With many museums closed due to the shutdown, small-group tours have stepped in to offer a viable alternative for tourists who would have otherwise visited cultural institutions.
Though the recent federal government shutdown has show to prevent and manage workplace conflict still remains an absentee topic in human resource development,. Yahoney, Veenker, & Meyer, 2016 said there is no empirical evidence that supports the effectiveness of workplace conflict management training.
These, and concerns that management should focus on teaching insight to the counter productivity there conflict, should combine to guide their human resource training and development programs.
National Park tours are still mostly unbothered. Zion, Yellow Stone and and Yosemite parks are still opened to visitors. Many visitors in trying to go to the parks should consult with the official government sites to get their information.
