“Based on the information that we’re getting, based on what we saw for 2011, I’m very hopeful that in the fall of 2012, we’ll be saying 2012 is our new peak,” said Saupe.
Alaska saw 1.56 million visitors from May to September of last year, which marked a reversal in a downturn that began in 2008, the year the state set a new record of 1.7 million summer visitors,
Saupe says, after 2008, a national and a worldwide recession put a chill on tourism. But today, she says, people in the Lower 48 are starting to feel more secure in their jobs and are willing to spend.
Growth in cruise ship capacity is another good sign. Princess Cruises is adding a fourth ship to its Alaska itinerary this summer.
“My gut tells me that the increased capacity is just going to bring in more people,” said Bruce Bustamante, Princess Cruises’ vice president of Community and Public Affairs in Alaska.
“When we look at another ship coming across the gulf, it’s going be 48, nearly 50,000 additional beds or berths to fill. So that’s going to have a significant increase as people move through, stay in Anchorage and move their way north,” said Bustamante.
Based on the cruise ship outlook, the Alaska Railroad expects its ridership to grow from 5 to 8 percent.
Another good sign: Alaska’s growing convention business. Bustamante, who used to be head of the Anchorage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, says the new Dena’ina Convention Center has helped to bring more visitors to Anchorage.
“They really kind of fit into that category of a business traveler, but they act like tourists when they get here,” said Bustamante.
There is one soft spot in the tourism outlook, what’s known as “rubber road traffic,” or, the motor home crowd.
High fuel prices may discourage those travelers from driving as much, so some of the more remote communities on Alaska’s road system may see fewer tourism dollars.
Anchorage may wind up getting some of that cash. The city tourism machine has already been promoting Anchorage’s lack of a sales tax, to encourage visitors to spend their dollars here.
Mike Anderson, who runs the popular downtown hotdog stand, M.A’s Hotdogs, says the number of early visitors this year has him forecasting an 8 percent increase in tourism.
“That’s my prediction. I’ll stand by it,” he said, barely missing a beat, as he multi-tasked, turning hotdogs on the grill and frying onions, while taking orders from a long line of customers.
