FAIRBANKS -- Tourism operators in Fairbanks say they've seen more business in 2011, but increases have been modest.

The marketing manager for the Sternwheeler Tanana Chief, Doug Kenney, told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner the season saw decent sales but the company had to work hard to make that happen.

Kenny said he markets heavily to residents to make up for a decrease in independent travelers.

The marketing coordinator for Northern Alaska Tour Co., Matt Atkinson, said company officials thought it was going to be a recovery year, perhaps a 10 to 20 percent increase in business.

He said the increase was less than 10 percent, but that the company saw an appreciable increase in international traffic.