In a sign that overtourism has reached one of the most remote cities on the planet, authorities in Juneau, the capital of Alaska, have taken steps to introduce a cap on cruise ship arrivals. Set to come into effect from 2026, a new agreement signed between the city and Cruise Lines International Association in Alaska (CLIA) proposes to limit the number of cruise ship passengers able to disembark in Juneau to 16,000 from Sunday to Friday, and to just 12,000 on Saturdays.
Juneau’s 32,000 inhabitants welcomed a new high of 1.6 million visitors in 2023, with daily visitor numbers sometimes reaching as much as two-thirds of the residential population. Plans are in motion to try to spread the incomers’ footfall and impact, including a new gondola at the city’s Eaglecrest ski area, a new seaside promenade and increasing capacity at Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. But, locals say, the sheer quantity of visitors is creating traffic congestion and noise pollution due to helicopter tourism centred on the region’s glaciers.
In a statement about the move by Juneau Visitor Industry director Alexandra Pierce, the cruise industry is recognised as “vital to our local economy, and we need to improve our infrastructure and grow our tour capacity to create a great guest experience and reduce impacts on residents.” Pierce went on: “With this agreement, we are committing to a cap to manage our busiest days and to meet annually to ensure that our visitor numbers remain sustainable.”
Juneau surveyed cruise visitors last year and found 70% bought a tour, 67% shopped in local stores and a third purchased food, for a total spend of $232/person. 98% were satisfied with their experience in Juneau, where they found the town to be clean and its residents friendly. pic.twitter.com/lqLXNE3DGL
— CLIA Alaska (@CLIA_Alaska) April 11, 2024
The decision to cap visitor numbers has created some controversy, however. CLIA has hailed the plan as “a well-balanced and thoughtful approach to keeping Juneau a great place to live and visit” and described the process as a pragmatic exchange of views and “ongoing, direct dialogue with local communities”. That dialogue, the body told CBS MoneyWatch, “is the best way to jointly self-regulate to preserve great resident and visitor experiences while providing a predictable market for the many local businesses that rely on the cruise industry.”
But critics say the measure does not go far enough and appears to be just a holding pattern. “It feels like we’re just getting led along again,” said Karla Hart, a local advocate of cruise-free Saturdays in the city. The solution she proposes is still awaiting signatures allowing it to be put to October’s voters but could place an outright ban on cruise ships carrying 250 or more passengers on Saturdays and American Independence Day on 4 July.
For the current season, a limit of five large cruise ships a day is in place but the season has seen itself stretched from the beginning of April to the end of October, meaning residents must put up with the effects of high visitor numbers for most of the year.
