Interior Alaska prepares for arrival of summer tourists

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - As the Alaskan Interior slides into summer, early indicators point to a potentially strong tourism season, according to tourism facilitator Explore Fairbanks.

President and CEO Scott McCrea said this year is expected to see a record cruise season in Alaska, with some of these cruises involving a land tour component that brings passengers to the Interior, making up about 41% of state visitors seen during the summer.

“Princess has added on a fourth cruise ship for this summer. Royal Caribbean has their largest cruise ship, about 5,000 capacity, that’s coming into Seward, too, and talking to some of our operators who do the land tours for them, they’re seeing good numbers on the cruise side,” he explained.

The independent tourism market, however, is harder to gauge, involving people who fly up to Fairbanks or Anchorage and may rent a car and travel around the state.

This sector of the tourism economy, McCrea said, is more concerning due to the uncertainty in global markets, including the prices of fuel and jet fuel.

“We always try to keep an eye on all those different factors that could, you know, ultimately impact the people coming here,” he said, adding that the Interior can be an expensive place to visit.

Calling Fairbanks a bucket list destination, McCrea said last year’s tourism season went better than expected, clarifying that results were mixed compared to the previous year.

The President and CEO looked hopefully toward new tourist attractions, both completed like the new planetarium at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and upcoming, like the combined air and automobile museum planned to open in June.

“We are, right now, just at probably one of the greatest moments here within the Fairbanks visitor industry with the addition of new, exciting year-round products and attractions that are going to help change the landscape here in terms of tourism industry,” he said.

McCrea also pointed to revitalization efforts in downtown Fairbanks and renovations at the Santa Claus House in North Pole as positive developments.

“It bodes well for our industry,” he added.

Meanwhile, many visitors continue to come to the Interior for its natural beauty, McCrea explained.

“It’s the draw of Mother Nature that brings them here, but I think what they leave, probably most importantly, is the human nature that they’re connected with,” he said.

While the tourism season in Fairbanks typically hits its stride around Memorial Day, peaking around the Summer Solstice and the month of July, McCrea said cruise passengers are expected to start arriving in Fairbanks around a week from now.

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