:: Tourism group wants to trade tax dollars for marketing dollars
By Rena Delbridge
Citing a need to draw more visitors to Alaska to stem anticipated declines as cruise ships rework their routes, the Alaska Travel Industry Association urged the House Finance Committee to approve a corporate tax credit for cruise lines that contribute voluntarily to the association.
The move is expected to net more money for marketing Alaska as a tourist destination and is supported by Gov. Sean Parnell, but the cruise industry cautioned that a tax credit for marketing isn't a fix-all for the troubling state of affairs.
Alaska Cruise Association President John Binkley said...
After many years of growth, the number of cruise visitors to Alaska failed to increase in 2008 and actually declined this season. The 1.2 percent drop in visitation, along with a decline in spending, rippled through the visitor industry, which experienced as much as a 30 percent decrease this year.
:: Great Lakes shippers oppose air pollution rules
Shipping companies that haul iron ore, coal and other freight on the Great Lakes have enlisted support from leading congressional Democrats to ward off air pollution regulations they say would be a financial burden.
A group representing the 55 U.S.-flagged vessels that operate on the lakes is hoping for relief from a House-Senate conference committee...
:: Holland moves ships
Holland America is shifting some of its ships around in 2010 with the net result of fewer voyages and passengers.
The line will send eight ships to Alaska but one of the ships will sail a 14-day, round-trip itinerary out of Seattle, reducing the number of voyages by 13 and passengers by 14,732.
The Amsterdam will sail out of Seattle on Mondays...
:: CLAA provides 'back of house' operations
Name: Bob Arts
Title: Vice President of Western Alaska
Business name: Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska (CLAA)
Briefly describe business: CLAA has operated in Alaska ever since the cruise ships started traveling to Alaska. CLAA is the "back of the house operation," meaning we arrange for services while a vessel is in port. We coordinate and work...
Bob Arts says Alaska needs to better understand the economic importance of tourism
:: Cruiseport Boston sets passenger record
There were 299,736 cruise passengers traveling through the Port of Boston in 2009, an 11 percent increase over last year, the Massachusetts Port Authority said.
During the 2009...
:: Princess' can-do helps scouts
Princess Cruises & Tours received a special thank you from Juneau Boy Scout Troop 11, chartered to the Resurrection Lutheran church, for...
Boy Scout Troop 11 enjoyed a ship tour after thanking the ship's staff for their donated aluminum cans.
:: Ketchikan suspends head-tax applications
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough has suspended accepting cruise ship passenger vessel head tax grant applications.
Borough Planning...
:: Seattle gains more ships
More cruise vessels called on the Port of Seattle during the 2009 season, although the number of passengers dipped slightly, the port announced Monday.
The port said 218 cruise ships visited Seattle this...
Turn ports for cruise ships bound for Alaska experienced a decline this season and are facing significant reductions next year as ships are redeployed to lower-cost destinations. The port of Seattle dipped 1 percent to 875,433 cruise passengers this year.