Fee increase justification

Mammoth Cave NP proposes to increase eight cave tour fees in 2014 for the following reasons:

• Cave tour fees have not increased in seven years, during which time, bus transportation payments to the concessioner have increased on two occasions. Since 2007, bus transportation payments to the park's concessioner have increased substantially: from $1/$2 per Adult/Youth to the present rate of $3 per person (for all riders). There is a need to factor this "direct cost" into future cave tour fees to mitigate its impact on park fee revenue.

• Park cave tour fees have not changed in seven years while area commercial caves have increased their pricing.

• In 2009, Mammoth Cave NP began to absorb costs to help slow the spread of White-nose Syndrome in bats. The park pre-screens cave tour visitors, provides education, and ensures that 400,000 cave visitors clean their footwear at the end of each cave tour as part of an effort to slow the spread of White-nose Syndrome. The park now spends >$100,000 a year in recreational fee funding to manage this issue.

Proposed increases by tour name:

New Entrance Tour: Existing Adult: $12/Youth: $8; Proposed Adult: $14/Youth: $10

Frozen Niagara Tour: Existing Adult: $10/Youth: $8; Proposed Adult: $12/Youth: $9

Grand Avenue Tour: Existing Adult: $24/Youth $18; Proposed Adult: $26/Youth: $19

Violet City Lantern Tour: Existing Adult: $15/Youth: $11; Proposed Adult: $17/Youth: $12

Great Onyx Tour: Existing Adult: $15/Youth: $11; Proposed Adult: $17/Youth: $12

Snowball Tour: Existing Adult: $14/Youth $9; Proposed Adult: $16/Youth: $10

Introduction to Caving: Existing Adult: $23.Youth: $18; Proposed Adult: $25/Youth: $19

Wild Cave Tour: Existing Adult: $48; Proposed Adult: $50

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