J Zimmerman, February 5, 2024
Cruise Boom: A Community on the Cusp of Change delves into the struggle of Sitka, Alaska, a picturesque town nestled amidst glacier-frosted mountains and the island-studded sea. Facing the impending surge of cruise ship tourism, the tight-knit community grapples with a profound dilemma. A large public cruise ship dock is opposed by locals–twice rejected during elections–leading a local business to construct a private dock with the support of a global cruise ship corporation.
As the town teeters on the brink of being overwhelmed by tourists, residents confront the complex interplay of economic opportunity and the preservation of their community's essence. Against the backdrop of a once-booming pulp mill and a still-booming fishing industry now without a supporting dock, this 55-minute documentary portrays the shifting dynamics of a town contemplating the impacts and benefits of global tourism. Cruise Boom raises critical questions about who truly benefits, the threshold of sustainable tourism, and the essence of hospitality in the face of a changing world.
My sole complaint about this film is its lack of concrete information. Topics such as taxes, job creation, and economic opportunity are thrown around a lot, but we never get the numbers. I wish the city council members, business owners, and local activists interviewed for this documentary had been given the space to discuss the quantitative side of their issues and plans.
While their emotional arguments and rhetoric are very well documented and important to understanding the multifaceted issues of modern tourism in small communities, the lack of economic information especially makes it difficult for the viewer to understand the full scope of the problem and proposed solutions.
That being said, Cruise Boom is an outstanding documentary. The pacing is excellent, and the interviews are intimate and compelling. Cruise Boom would fit right in public library collections about tourism and economics. Highly Recommended.
Where does this documentary belong on public library shelves?
Cruise Boom belongs among tourism, economics, and environmental documentary titles.
What kind of film series could use this title?
Cruise Boom belongs in any film series about tourism and small-town economies.
Link to Video Librarian Review