WSTPC calls on Senate to confirm National Park Service Director
On behalf of the Western States Tourism Policy Council (WSTPC), we are writing in support of Charles Sams to be the next confirmed National Park Service director. Our WSTPC members had the good fortune to meet with Mr. Sams recently and believe he will be a very gifted leader during this pivotal time for our nation’s park system.
Visitors travel to experience destinations unique to our states and the way of life and cultural heritage that our states offer. However, record-breaking visitation at several park sites has become a challenge for all stakeholders, public and private. Thanks to your respective leadership and support, investments through the Great American Outdoors Act will begin to address this. Meanwhile, lesser understood yet equally important challenges like housing shortages and workforce development needs, and operational investments require attention as well.
WSTPC members are on the front lines of public lands tourism. We need a park service leader who will see and instill a vision that each park asset is unique, even within the same geographic region. Charles Sams understands that adaptive management strategies can empower the tourism community and our gateway community leaders to be partners in addressing park needs and visitation challenges. For example, the industry acknowledges the merits of timed entry passes as a destination management strategy. But it is not appropriate everywhere. In the limited instances where it is justified, it must recognize the unique character of each park site and gateway community in order to be successful and accepted by the public. We know that the successful rollout and implementation of these types of adaptive destination and visitation management tools requires communication from the Park Service leadership and buy-in from stakeholders and diverse partnerships beyond a park’s boundaries.
In 1983, Wallace Stegner observed, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” National parks sites are part of our national fabric. They require hands-on, committed leadership. We urge you to support Charles Sams’ confirmation.
