Tourism

Huna Totem Corporation aims to complete construction on a 10,000-foot visitor center and a new cruise ship berth with a curved trestle by 2025, but there are many steps to go in the public process.

The board says previous approaches focused on voluntary compliance have proven ineffective at addressing the unique hazards of flying in the area.

Under a revenue-sharing agreement, Goldbelt would contribute $10 million to the project and would get between 10-25% of gondola revenue. 

At Monday’s Assembly meeting, members praised Kirby Day for his leadership of Tourism Best Management Practices for the last 25 years. 

Prince Rupert has welcomed about 41,000 cruise passengers this year, and that’s expected to double next year.

Some 927 whale sightings were reported by Alaska cruise lines this year. 

The lake is currently under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service, and a successful lawsuit could bring significant changes. For example, motorboats and (in winter) snowmachines are barred from the lake. 

In 2022, tourism was almost back to pre-pandemic levels, so samples taken this year will show the difference in the whale’s stress levels when there are and aren’t boats in the water all summer. 

Skagway’s hopes of berthing up to four cruise ships a day in 2023 took a full step backward this week as results from a simulation project steered at least one major cruise line company away from agreeing to use a reconfigured dock.

That would represent about 74% of the capacity for all the ships that sailed to Juneau this year.