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Tourism and Alaska’s Future: An Economics Perspective. Steve Colt Institute of Social and Economic Research University of Alaska Anchorage steve_colt@uaa.alaska.edu Rev. 3 Feb 2003. Our Fragile Economy: per capita income is down from 1990 to 2000.
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Tourism and Alaska’s Future:An Economics Perspective Steve Colt Institute of Social and Economic Research University of Alaska Anchorage steve_colt@uaa.alaska.edu Rev. 3 Feb 2003
Our Fragile Economy:per capita income is down from 1990 to 2000
84,000 Alaska Jobs Depend on Healthy Ecosystems (circa 1998)
Tourism Industry (nonresidents) • Marine environment is a major attraction • “Soft adventure” is fastest growing segment, but… • Many residents dislike the associated impacts (e.g., helicopters) 17,000 direct jobs 26,000 total jobs
What About Soft Adventure?…guided rafting on Chugach National Forest
Recreation Industry (residents) • Hard/impossible to measure - overlaps with tourism and sport fishing • Important to many residents as a key benefit of living in Alaska (“permanent tourists”) 7,200 direct jobs 9,800 total jobs
(circa 2000) • Endeavor to position Alaska as a year round destination, i.e., winter tourism • Increase total visitor expenditures statewide; endeavor to maintain or increase per trip expenditures. • Attract a diverse mixture of visitors who travel to and within Alaska by a variety of travel modes. • Increase independent visitation to Alaska. • Increase visitation to non-urban Alaska. • Maintain or Increase the average length of stay in Alaska. • Maintain or increase the rate of new and repeat visitation.
The Challenge of Capturing Value…. • From Drive-Through visitors • From Virtual visitors
Disposition of Alaska Lands Total 375 million acres
Kenai NWR: • $21 million on-site expenditures • PLUS, $28 million additional sport fishing expenditures depend on refuge habitat • $49 million total 950 jobs
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge:$21 million visitor expenditure (1997)
Kenai NWR Visits Expenditures
Bristol Bay NWRs: • $21 million on-site expenditures • PLUS, $28 million additional sport fishing expenditures depend on refuge habitat • $49 million total 950 jobs
Bristol Bay Wildlife Refuges:$2.4 million visitor expenditure (1997)
Visits Bristol Bay NWRs Expenditures
The Challenge of Capturing Value…. • Use value • Consumptive • Nonconsumptive • Option value • Existence Value
Capturing the Value • The Potential: • Average AK $ per person per trip? • $1,258 in 2001 • Of which, how much on gifts/souvenirs? • $119 • how much on Alaska Native arts/crafts? • $92 • How much on clothing? • $58
Why do People Visit Alaska Why do People Live in Alaska?
Reactions: • Overall Numbers? • Numbers by Mode?
Reactions: • Where do people derive value?
Reactions: • Who are our “visitors?”