Ah, the height of spring, summer is coming soon. It’s almost time to pack the kids into the family caravan, leave the tent, sleeping bags and propane stove behind, and head out to explore America’s national parks.
If your backcountry plans include Rocky Mountain National Park, be prepared to leave the cash at home.Beginning June 1, Colorado parks will completely cashless system Only mobile or electronic payments related to park entrances and permits are accepted.
under the auspices of Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the national park retains 80 percent of the fees it collects. Those funds are then invested in projects that improve services and protect park resources. According to a press release from the National Park Servicea cashless system will reduce the time and money spent managing cash, allowing more costs to go directly to park programs and visitor services.
What about other places?
The 63 national parks are spread across 30 states and two U.S. territories, each with its own business. A list can be found here. Potential visitors should familiarize themselves with the fee policies and procedures prior to departure.
National Park Service’s park locator It includes not only parks, but also memorials, battlefields, historical sites, etc. Details of fees for each location can be found on the website.
payment trends
The influence of cash has significantly weakened, a long-term trend accelerated by the outbreak of the pandemic. The future of cash —or lack of one– is still the subject of much debate.
A Javelin Strategy and Research A white paper published in March titled pay for health, conducted a data-driven study of consumer payment behavior. The report, sponsored by NCR, noted that credit and debit cards top consumers’ preference lists, followed by cash. More than that, though, the vast majority of consumers want a full range of choices in how they buy goods and services. Reducing those options is a gamble — and perhaps a reasonable one, given how Rocky Mountain Park intends to use the funds freed from cash-management obligations.
“While eliminating cash saves merchants money and time, it eliminates a payment method that remains popular with consumers despite declining usage,” he said daniel case, Senior Analyst of Business Services at Javelin Strategy & Research. “Consumers want to be able to pay in any way they like, and removing such a popular option as cash will frustrate customers.”
