View the Alaska Forward Visitor Industry Survey HERE.
Tourism Initiatives
1.Workforce Development- To identify career opportunities and train Alaskan employees to meet industry needs. This successful match of industry and individual Alaskan’s needs results in rewarding careers for Alaskans who wish to work in the tourism industry and more effective, economic and stable workforce for the industry.
2. Soft-Adventure Tourism- To overcome visitor objections to Soft-Adventure activities, increasing visitor stay length, return rate and dollars spent in Alaska and to facilitate development of the Soft-Adventure tourism industry.
Definition: Anything sold to the public that anyone can do in a day is a Soft-Adventure.
3. Cultural Sensitivity & Marketing- Incorporate Alaska Native cultures in state marketing that demonstrates the authentic past and present way of life that is unique to Alaska and fill niche that many other long haul destinations cannot fill. Increase overall tourism to the state by creating and embracing a brand identity of Alaska Native culture statewide that provides the Alaska visitor with an increased understanding and awareness of not only the past, but the present Alaska Native culture and traditional values of today.
4. Tourism Benefits and Conflicts- Inform and educate organizations and residents as to the value of Alaska tourism industry based on current economic impact studies. Set the stage for more breadth and depth of public support leading to better funding for actions like destination marketing. Identify areas where tourism development may be conflict with community interests. Produce and share objective, complete information about tourism impacts and strategies to maximize tourism benefits.
