You might expect that losing cruise tourists is bad for Alaska, but what if I told you it was a golden opportunity for our state?
The cruise ship industry was expecting 1.4 million visitors this summer. These are people who were planning to come to Alaska but now no longer can. However, the demand is still there. Not Mexico, not Hawaii — Alaska. Already, many tour operators are getting ready for a new influx of travelers because they know that people are ready for adventure. After spending a year indoors, there is a lot of pent-up demand for new experiences. The Roaring ’20s happened immediately after the Spanish flu for a reason. There is no better place than Alaska, where we have wide open spaces, the highest vaccination rate in the country, and some of the lowest airfares we have seen in years.
There is likely going to be some conversion from cruise ship to airborne traveler. Even if it is only 25%, that 25% would have the same statewide economic impact as the total cruise economy. The average cruise ship passenger spends $624 into Alaska’s economy. Compare that to adventure travelers, who spend an average of $2,464 per person. That is almost four times as much.
If you are a tour operator, town marketer, hotelier or some other type of vendor, now is the time to put out a press release that showcases your benefits, discounts for early bookings, and an explanation as to how you keep travelers safe.
Most travelers who make it to Alaska this summer will be vaccinated. It is highly likely that most of Alaska will be vaccinated too. No cruise ships this summer could be the opportunity that Alaska needs to jumpstart its tourism economy.
— Ross Johnston
Anchorage
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