Tourism decreases in Yosemite National Park and nearby enterprises due to worries about overpopulation
In the heart of California, Yosemite National Park continues to draw visitors from near and far, despite a 10% drop in tourism this year. One such traveler is Leandro Previsdomini, a visitor from Italy, who journeyed over 6,100 miles to experience the park's breathtaking beauty.
For Previsdomini, after years of seeing the United States on television, the opportunity to visit in person was a long-awaited dream. Fascinated by trees and nature, he considers the United States a beautiful country he has only seen in movies. Upon arrival, he was not disappointed.
Previsdomini found the experience of seeing small animals like squirrels and birds in Yosemite particularly emotionally significant. The park's famous landmarks, such as Half Dome and El Capitan, left him in awe.
Despite the decrease in tourism, Yosemite National Park's visitor center in Oakhurst operated as usual on Friday. Brooke Smith, from Visit Yosemite, believes the perception of overcrowding in the park is causing people to stay away. However, local businesses suggest that there are numerous other spectacular sights to see in the Sierra, should overcrowding become an issue in Yosemite.
Last year, visitors faced a two-hour wait to enter Yosemite National Park. However, this year, Previsdomini did not experience such wait times. As of August 15, 2023, reservations will no longer be required to visit the park. Officials did not provide a reason for the change in the reservation requirement.
The ride up to Mariposa Grove, home to over 500 giant sequoias, offers beautiful creeks, a small waterfall, and picturesque meadows. Tourism is a significant economic driver in Madera County and the Southgate Yosemite area, providing approximately 4,500 jobs.
While the exact reason for the 10% drop in 2022 is not explicitly stated, it likely involves a combination of visitor experience challenges, environmental pressures, and possibly broader travel or economic conditions impacting tourism that year. Factors such as poor visitor support and staff attitude issues, overcrowding, and environmental stresses like litter and trail deterioration have been noted in recent years.
Mimi Beck from Yosemite Adventure Company has noticed a decline in visitors this year compared to previous years. However, for Previsdomini, the emotional impact of visiting Yosemite, being a famous park, far outweighs any potential challenges. He believes the park can provide him with a lot of emotion.
[1] Tourism in Yosemite National Park was down by about 10% in 2022 mainly due to a decline in visitor numbers. [2] A visitor review in 2025 highlighted poor visitor support and staff attitude issues compared to nearby parks, which could contribute to decreasing visits if similar issues existed earlier. [3] The majority of visitors to Yosemite are U.S. residents, primarily from California, so regional factors such as travel restrictions or economic issues in California could also influence visitation numbers. [4] Overcrowding and environmental stresses such as litter and trail deterioration have been reported, which might have impacted visitor experience and thus tourism trends.
