With Thursday’s announcement by the Canadian Minister of Transport restricting ship traffic, including cruises, in Canadian ports until a year from now, Alaska’s cruise season is in serious jeopardy.
Bonnie Quill is the President and CEO of the Mat-Su Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which does a lot of tourism marketing for the Valley. She says the news that Canada was shutting down cruise traffic for a whole year came as a surprise.
“We know the challenges that they’re going through right now to resume cruise travel, and that’s why many of us were expecting a late start – and hoping for that. The “no sail [order]” coming out [Thursday] through the end of February [2021] was a surprise.”
A natural question is why those cruise ships don’t just keep sailing past Canada to Southeast Alaska. The answer is tied up in a federal law known as the Jones Act. Essentially, because cruise ships typically fly foreign flags, they have to stop over at a foreign port during their journey. While it’s possible there could be a waiver issued, it’s far from a guarantee.
So, what does that mean for tourism in Alaska and the Mat-Su? According to the Alaska Resource Development Council, more than two million visitors came to the state in 2019, and more than half of those arrived by cruise ship. Unlike in 2020, businesses have had a year to adapt and plan in the event that cruise ships wouldn’t be coming, and that includes the cruise lines themselves. Despite the strong possibility that they won’t be sailing, Bonnie Quill says Princess is planning on opening some of its Alaska properties this summer.
“Currently, they’ve announced that they are going to open one property in Denali, the Kenai Princess, and the Fairbanks property. They’re going to support land-only vacations. Last year they didn’t open any of their Alaska assets.”
Other accommodations, including Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, are currently taking summer reservations as well.
Where Bonnie Quill and other tourism professionals see potential for this year is independent travelers. Quill says there is a pent-up desire for many to go on vacations, and a combination of government restrictions and traveler perceptions could mean more trips to Alaska.
“Alaska has an advantage right now in luring those independent travelers, because we are seen as a safe destination.”
For now, Quill says the Mat-Su CVB will work to court independent travelers as well as build on last year’s statewide campaign for in-state tourism.
As with almost any conversation about the near-term future during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still unknowns, and the situation remains fluid. Only time will tell how much of the tourism economy returns to the Northern Susitna Valley this summer.
