It's Just Movies: Review of Cruise Boom by Bev Questad

Know anyone who has gone on an Alaskan cruise this past year?

The new Klondike Gold Rush (1896-189) is The Alaskan Tourist Rush. With the recent opening of a private dock in Sitka, the inhabitants say, “Welcome!” But quietly they wonder, “At what point do we lose a lot of our spirit?” One thing is for sure, they have lost significant control of their city.

Here’s what happened. With a population around 8,400, the people in Sitka voted against establishing a public dock for cruise ships. However, someone owning the local shipyard contacted Royal Caribbean and partnered with them to build a private terminal. It was a good deal for the landowner but has proven to be a challenging ordeal for the community.

Now, without public control of the dock, the City and Borough of Sitka, which is governed by a Unified Home Rule system, realized they could not control how many ships or passengers came to Sitka, a two-island community accessible only by plane or boat. Plus, the town had no right to the docking fees.

As the baby-boomers have retired and taken to traveling around the world, Alaska offers a unique American experience. But the environmental effects of these mammoth ships and an influx of tourists in a minimum of 180 days on these tiny towns is an overwhelming challenge for the people living there. Over 379.000 cruise ship tourists visited Sitka the first year of their post-Covid cruise boom. Approx 560,000 passengers visited the second year.

Though there is some gratitude for the summer onslaught of tourist business in restaurants and souvenir shops, the Sitka people soon realized they needed to create a more robust infrastructure for electricity, waste management and accommodations for out-of-town seasonal workers. How could such a tiny town afford all this?

A PBS film, “Cruise Boom” investigates the many pros and cons besetting the Sitka residents. “Cruise Boom” is also now available online for free viewing (watch in below). Perhaps you will be motivated to get onboard for observing glaciers calving and wild animals treated well at sanctuaries. Your attendance at indigenous performances and cultural centers will hopefully re-invigorate the indigenous Alaskan heritage.

But the downside is also presented, and it may make you pause. “From Bar Harbor, Maine to Tahiti, French Polynesia, a global conversation is happening with communities working to decide what kind of tourism they want to see.” Whatever your point of view, directors Ellen Frankenstein and Atman Mehta have created a powerful film for you to ponder.

Link to It’s Just Movies Review of Cruise Boom

Documentary encourages discussion on sustainable tourism

By Melinda Munson, KHNS | January 26, 2024

Jennifer Castle pictured filling out the anonymous poll from Sherry Corrington

Skagwegians had the unusual opportunity for dinner and a movie on Jan. 19 when Skagway Arts Council screened the documentary Cruise Boom at AB Hall. 

Directed, filmed and edited by Ellen Frankenstein and Atman Mehta, the 50-minute film explores how Sitka will deal with a drastic increase in cruise ship passengers, a seasonal total of roughly 500,000. 

Long-time Sitka resident, Frankenstein, Zoomed with the Skagway audience following the screening. She described reactions to the film.  

Ellen Frankenstein:“Well, the reception has been that this is really a hot topic. And people have a lot to say, there isn’t one way to kind of peel the onion. And I think one of the things that’s hard, and it builds for years, when you bring up stuff that has to deal with resources and economies, it’s touchy.” 

Sherry Corrington came to the event with an anonymous poll she passed around the hall. The survey read: Do you think we need to limit the number of visitors in town each day during the summer? Respondents could choose yes, no or maybe. She also provided a sign-up sheet for a future meeting to “brainstorm ways to create a sustainable model of tourism in Skagway.” 

Corrington broke down the number of Skagway cruise ship passengers per year-round resident. 

Sherry Corrington: “We got 1.3 million last year. And let’s say we have roughly 1,000 [residents], give or take. That’s 1,200-1,300 people per resident. We’re all feeling the effects of that, 100%. We’re watching our friends leave town. Prices are insane for rentals or to buy a home.” 

Bruce Schindler noted that Skagway has always struggled with keeping up with tourism, even when the numbers were as low as 500,000. 

Bruce Schindler: “We are being overwhelmed by the industry that — I think we all love this industry. But too much of a good thing will choke you. The other side of the coin has been our ability to adapt to this industry as it has grown.” 

Schindler referenced inadequate staffing and housing, lack of bathrooms and poor traffic flow. 

The conversations at the screening were exactly what Frankenstein was hoping for. 

Ellen Frankenstein: “The communities need to try and have a dialogue about what they want, and how you find balance if there is such a thing. So you can support, we can support our economies. But we need to do it in a way that makes the place that we love — the places we love and care about remain the places that we love and care about.”  

Her statement was greeted with an enthusiastic hoot.

Link to KHNS FM story