If the US government’s spending authority ends on Friday without lawmakers reaching a compromise, the impact on travel could involve millions of travelers.
Eighteen million people visited national parks in just one month, March, according to John Garder of the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association.
"People will be outraged," he tells USA TODAY. "Not only would a government shutdown jeopardize family trips and school field trips to places like the Statue of Liberty, we are concerned it would have a significant impact on the local communities and businesses that depend on tourism."
Another seven million visitors yearly visit 368 National Park Service sites, says a report on “Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects,” written by Clinton T. Brass.
The report also pointed out that there would be no issuing of visas and passports, impacting up to thousands more people seeking such documents.
By David Wilkening
