Alaska's third most popular cruise port greeted 811,000 passengers in 2007 who enjoyed Skagway's gold rush history. Skagway is the only Southeast port that acts as both an embarkation and disembarkation port.
January 1, 1970
SKAGWAY - The seasonal cruise industry injected $95 million into the Skagway economy last year, contributed $4.9 million to local government in taxes and created 77 jobs in cruise line hotel and tour operations, according to a new economic impact study conducted by the McDowell Group.
Skagway remains the third most popular cruise port in Alaska, capturing 80 percent - 811,000 passengers in 2007 - of all Alaska cruise passengers. Skagway is the only Southeast port that acts as both an embarkation and disembarkation port. Shore excursion tours incorporate the town's gold rush heritage, including the popular Days of '98 show and simulated Gold Rush camps. Tours also provide an opportunity for guests to experience the Yukon, either by bus or train. Helicopter tours, hiking, biking, horseback riding and day trips to Haines via fast ferry are also popular with visitors to Skagway.
The cruise industry purchased goods and services from 19 Skagway businesses. Statewide, the cruise industry brought $1.35 billion in to the Alaska economy. Cruise passenger spending directly or indirectly counts for half of the economic activity, followed by cruise line purchases and wages. The industry generated an estimated $100 million for state and local governments, with half going to the state and half to local governments.
Southeast Alaska receives about half (47 percent) of the total cruise passenger and cruise expenditures, followed by Southcentral Alaska with 26 percent and Interior/Other Alaska at 16 percent. Approximately 11 percent of expenditures have a statewide impact and cannot be attributed to any one region of the state.
The industry directly or indirectly supports an annual average of 14,500 full-time jobs in Alaska, including 7,000 in Southeast Alaska, 3,000 in Southcentral Alaska, 2,500 in Interior Alaska and 2,000 statewide.