YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Congressman Tom McClintock took credit for postponing Yosemite's reservation system at a recent Business Council Luncheon, according to a video by MyMotherLode.com. In the video, McClintock said the National Park Service "was about to go ahead and reimpose that reservation system," - but he says he "raised hell with the White House, and they're now backing off - at least for the moment." During the luncheon, he called Yosemite's reservation system "damaging" to visitation and its gateway communities. However, according to the park's Visitor Use Data, visitation was not affected by the reservation system during the summers of 2020 through 2022, nor in 2024 while it was in effect. However, regardless of opinion, McClintock says park staff have told him that they have "guaranteed lower visitation this summer as a result of the situation that has evolved" due in part "to a lack of reservation system clarity." He says hotel staff have told him that they are "literally thousands of rooms behind in summer bookings as a result of the uncertainty visitors have about if they will need a reservation to come to Yosemite." A permanent reservation system would restore ‘a world class experience’ in Yosemite, senator says McClintock says that the decision needs to be made now to ensure potential visitors do not turn to alternative plans. However, due to the current lack of hotel bookings and the fact that "we are already so far into the season," he believes that need can only be remedied by not implementing a reservation system this year. ...read more read less