:: Did Alaskans sink a profitable tourism industry?
By Tim Bradner
The recent decisions by cruise companies to redeploy ships from Alaska voyages in 2010 will have broad ripple effects in the state's economy, particularly in Southcentral-Interior Alaska regions.
The visitor loss is estimated at 140,000 in 2010, which translates to 1,800 tourism-related jobs lost statewide, and a loss of $72 million per year in annual payroll.
In Southcentral Alaska, there will be 300 cruise-related jobs lost in 2010 of 3,000 employed in a typical year. In the Interior there will be 309 jobs lost of...
2010 Redeployment Schedules Reflect Passenger Loss
As of April 27, 2009
*Remains deployed in Alaska but new 14-day itinerary brings fewer net passengers to state.
**According to the 2008 AVSP Study 46% or 65,000 people will not visit Alaska in the future based upon: 19% or 27,000 Alaska cruise passengers are repeat visitors; 27% or 38,000 Alaska cruise passengers
:: Goldbelt's take on the cruise-ship tax and regulation
By: Gary Droubay
It is very disconcerting to see the sponsors of the Cruise-ship tax Initiative still defending this unnecessary legislation. They successfully convinced most of the citizens of Alaska who are not directly impacted by the Cruise Industry, that these companies were giant international corporate entities who were taking advantage of us by polluting our air, discharging dirty water into our oceans and not paying taxes anywhere. We sent them a message that they weren't really welcome here unless they paid dearly!
Make no mistake, for years to come this...
Catering to the visitor industry is a major investment for Goldbelt, which owns five tourism-related businesses, including the popular Mt. Roberts Tram.
:: Create a business climate that encourages promotion
Name: Shane Burnett
Title: President, Arctic Fire and Safety
His Business: This is our 32nd year as a business serving Fairbanks and the State of Alaska. We are a family-owned fire equipment safety supply and training company.
Shane's first start with the cruise industry: I started with Arctic Fire 17 years ago, which was my first job related to the visitor industry. We worked consistently with...
Shane and Jill Burnett
Participants take part in the 2009 Mass Rescue Exercise in Ketchikan on April 28. The exercise presented a scenario where a cruise ship with more than 2,500 passengers and crew aboard was involved in a major incident requiring the evacuation of the ship.
:: Coast Guard leads mass rescue exercise
By Kate Golden
Screw up the head count, and the rescue fails. In 2006, a British Columbia ferry sank, and two people were not accounted for; they died on the ship. Counting people is...
The Amsterdam will call at the Port of Anchorage every other week in 2010, becoming the first ship to visit Anchorage on a regular basis.
:: Cruise ship to call on Anchorage
Holland America Line will make a regular cruise ship stop in Anchorage in 2010.
The Amsterdam, which carries 1,380 passengers and a crew of 615, will be the first ship of a major line...
:: Vancouver working to find new cruise opportunities
Princess Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have all announced changes to their Alaska schedules for this summer and next, introducing new marketing initiatives and new products in a bid to cut costs and attract new...
:: Ship docks in Homer
By Naomi Klouda
The first cruise ship of the summer rolled into Homer on May 20. At 781 feet long, the M/S Volendam is one of Holland...