The pristine natural beauty of Alaska boasts breathtaking landscapes with vast national parks, glaciers and 6,640 miles of coastline that makes the destination particularly popular for cruises.
Now, the capital port city of Juneau, where crowds have been sailing in in record numbers, is considering a limit on large cruise ships with 250 passengers or more that would cap the number of daily visitors starting in 2026 to help combat overtourism.
New agreement in Alaska to limit cruise ship visitors
A cruise ship departs from downtown Juneau, on June 7, 2023, along the Gastineau Channel, in Alaska.
Becky Bohrer/AP
Last month, cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian signed an agreement with Juneau tourism officials to help manage the thousands of passengers getting off the boats at the same time and visiting the area.
While the numbers are subject to change, Sundays through Fridays, cruise crowds are expected to be capped at 16,000. That number will be limited to 12,000 on Saturdays.
The new agreement expands on last year’s decision to implement a limit of five cruise ships per day in Juneau.
Cruise ships are docked on June 9, 2023, in downtown Juneau, Alaska.
Becky Bohrer/AP
Juneau is home to some amazing outdoor attractions, such as whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier, but some local residents said they’ve had enough of the post-pandemic crowds.
“I personally came to the realization that Alaska was being sold as a friendly place and that my friendliness was a commodity for the cruise lines,” resident Karla Hart told ABC News. “The idea is just one day every week to just take a pause — to have our community back.”
In 2023, a record 1.6 million cruise passengers visited Juneau, including Sarah Grathwohlwent, who was there for the first time earlier this spring and documented her journey on social media.
“It was beautiful to go and see a glacier — was my first one,” she said. “I’m not against limiting the amount of cruise ships, I think it would make it nicer for the locals who live there year round.”
Overtourism around the world prompts new crowd management systems
Cruise ships are shown near downtown Juneau on June 7, 2023, along the Gastineau Channel, in Alaska.
Becky Bohrer/AP
Scott Keyes, travel expert and founder of Going.com, said that the challenges of overtourism are not isolated to Juneau.
“We have been setting new travel records every month so far in 2024, and there’s no reason to think that’s going to stop,” he told ABC News.
In the U.S., Mount Rainier is among the National Parks that have begun implementing timed entry reservations to help manage large crowds. In Europe, hotspot destinations like Venice and Barcelona have implemented day trip fees for visitors.
Over the weekend in Barcelona, thousands of locals protested in the streets with water guns to take a stand against tourism, which they say has resulted in a higher cost of living for residents.
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Due to increased demand in Athens, Greece, the city is also studying limits on tourist capacity.
Experts believe that as more destinations see surges in visitors, local officials may implement restrictions to deal with crowds diplomatically.
“I’m all in favor of steps taken to try to make sure you’re managing that properly and respecting the local environment and everything,” Keyes said.
Alaska, known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, has long been a popular destination for cruise ship tourists. However, as the number of visitors to the state continues to rise, concerns have been raised about the impact of mass tourism on local communities and the environment. In response to these concerns, officials in Alaska are exploring potential restrictions on cruise ship tourists in bustling port cities like Juneau.
Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is a popular stop for cruise ships due to its picturesque scenery and rich cultural heritage. However, the influx of thousands of tourists each day has put a strain on the city’s infrastructure and natural resources. Local residents have voiced their concerns about overcrowding, traffic congestion, and pollution caused by cruise ship tourism.
In an effort to address these issues, Alaska officials are considering implementing restrictions on cruise ship tourists in Juneau. One proposal being discussed is to limit the number of cruise ships that can dock in the city each day. This would help reduce overcrowding and allow for a more sustainable level of tourism.
Another potential restriction being considered is to require cruise ship passengers to purchase permits in order to disembark in Juneau. These permits could help offset the costs of managing tourism in the city and fund conservation efforts to protect the local environment.
Additionally, officials are exploring ways to encourage cruise ship tourists to explore other parts of Alaska beyond the popular port cities. By promoting lesser-known destinations and diversifying tourism activities, they hope to spread the economic benefits of tourism more evenly throughout the state.
While these potential restrictions may be met with resistance from the cruise ship industry, many residents and environmental advocates see them as necessary steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism in Alaska. By balancing the needs of tourists with those of local communities and the environment, officials hope to create a more responsible and enjoyable experience for all visitors to the Last Frontier.
