Even Alaska's interior feeling the pinch as cruise passengers cut back

[mercedes]

It's not just Alaska's port towns suffering this year as cruise passengers cut back on spending. Even the state's interior is feeling the pinch.

Fairbanks' Daily News-Miner today reports visitor arrivals to Alaska's second largest city have plunged this summer as cruisers slash the number of days they stay in the state before and after voyages.

The news outlet notes attendance at Fairbanks' Museum of the North, a popular stop for cruisers, dropped about 25% in July versus the same month last year. Hotels in the city are seeing double digit declines in occupancy, and airlines report sharp declines in passengers flying to and from the city.

Cruise passengers traditionally account for about half of visitors to Fairbanks. While far from the coastal ports cruise ships visit, the city is a common stop on multi-day land tours that cruise lines sell as add-ons to seven-night Alaska voyages.

The tourism decline for Alaska's interior may be just beginning. Several big ship lines including Princess, NCL and Royal Caribbean already have announced plans to pull ships from the state in 2010, citing the growing costs of taxes and regulations.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association projects that 140,000 fewer cruise passengers will visit Alaska in 2010 -- a 14% decline from this year.

[lindasuelucas]

this is sad news...