Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks
Fairbanks tourism showed some signs of rebound this summer. Fairbanks Convention and Visitor’s Bureau President and CEO Deb Hickock says one indicator, city bed tax revenue, showed some improvement over last year’s very weak season, but nowhere near the record level of 2008.
Hickcock cautions that Borough and North Pole bed tax revenue hasn’t been calculated, and that August receipts, which she expects to be relatively strong, also aren’t in yet. Cruise ship companies reduced Alaska sailings this summer, so any bump in visitation is being attributed to independent travelers. Matt Atkinson with the Northern Alaska Tour Company says independents helped cushion the cruise decline.
No individual operators report anything dramatic, but there’s optimism among all. Steve Frank who runs a restaurant, hotel and R.V. Park says the season was encouraging.
Deb Hickock says cruise companies are giving some indication they may increase Alaska sailings by 2012.
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