National Parks can now hire private companies to run visitor services and build facilities

The National Park Service can now sign contracts with private companies to run visitor services and build new facilities. This means private businesses can operate and expand commercial services like shops, tours, and lodging inside national parks.

For decades, the National Park Service mostly managed its own visitor services or relied on non-profit partners. This rule opens up a new path for private companies to directly operate and expand commercial offerings within parks. It could lead to more amenities and services for visitors, but also shifts some control over park operations to private entities.