Alaskan Port Aims To Cap Cruise Ship Visitors In 2024

A vocal minority in the Alaskan town of Sitka has called for a cap on the number of cruise ship visitors to the area.

This past summer saw a record-breaking 560,000 guests arrive in Sitka by cruise ship, more than double the amount of visitors from the previous season.

Larry Edwards, a local resident, is leading an effort to limit the annual number of cruise ship guests to the nation's oldest city to no more than 240,000. He argues that this is all about bringing law and order back to the local area, as he describes the situation as "total anarchy."

Edwards said that the problem is not new, despite this being the first time it has been put to a vote at the local level. It's been a hot topic of debate since the 1990s. And no one has ever really inquired as to the desires of the people of Sitka.

He noted that the annual limit of 240,000 is far more reasonable than the daily limit of 1,000 in Bar Harbor, Maine (which includes crew members). Edwards further noted that the rule that he prepared takes into consideration the total number of cruise travellers that visited the town on an annual basis prior to the coronavirus outbreak. This policy contains daily and weekly limitations.

In this scenario, the city would require cruise lines to get licenses and report daily on the volume of passengers, including staff.

Though he hasn't had a chance to analyse Edwards' proposal, John Leach, the city administrator, is worried about the potential consequences it may have legally, constitutionally, and economically.

“There is a big litigation risk, and the way we’re going to have to pay for that litigation, when and if it comes this way, is right out of our general fund. And our general fund is what pays for our public schools, it pays for our infrastructure, and it pays for our public safety”, Leach commented.

There are, however, significant obstacles that Edwards must overcome before it can take effect. It also has to be authorized by the city and get more than 800 signatures within three months. A vote by the Sitkans is expected when the proposal is confirmed, maybe as soon as the beginning of December.

Sitka does not restrict the number of cruise ship visitors at this time.

 

Source: cruiseradio.net