Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ScholarWorks@UA Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska Darcy Dugan Ginny Fay Hannah Griego Steve Colt ISER Working Paper 2009.1 March 2009 Institute of Social and Economic Research University of Alaska Anchorage www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu contact: [email protected] [email protected] Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the owners and employees of many businesses who patiently spent time with us and provided information. Some people deserve special thanks for making extra efforts to help ensure that our data accurately represent the industry. They include Jane Button, Chris Conder, Krissy Edson, Angela Filler, Rachel Fredholm, Case Harris, Davey Lubin, Woo McLean, Mike McKimens, Ken Owen, Scott Ownesby, Karen Peterson, K.K. Prussian, Brenda Schwartz, and Kevin of Kevin’s Cabins in Coffman Cove. We were able to go on excursions with numerous companies to gain a better understanding of nature-based tourism activities. These companies include Alaska Charters and Adventures, Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, Alaska Zipline Adventures, Alaska’s South East Excursions, Ester G. Sea Taxi, Goldbelt Tours, the Hobbit Hole, Icy Strait Point Development Corporation, Light Island Ventures, Orca Enterprises, Promech Air, Quiet Cove Charters, Shinaku Charters, Sitka Bike and Hike, Sitka Raptor Center, Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures, Southeast Exposure, and Temsco Helicopters. We were also shown aboard several charter yachts including Alaska on the Homeshore, the Sea Mist, the Alaska Story, the sailboat Bob, and True Blue. Funding for this work was provided by the Alaska Conservation Foundation, The University of Alaska Foundation, and The Wilderness Society. Suggested citation: Dugan, Darcy, Ginny Fay, Hannah Griego, and Steve Colt. 2008. Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska. Anchorage: University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research. Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 10 2. Methods ................................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Field testing phase: 2005 ............................................................................................... 11 2.2 Methods and caveats...................................................................................................... 12 3. Ketchikan.............................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Flightseeing: Misty Fjords and bear viewing................................................................. 14 3.2 Marine charters.............................................................................................................. 15 3.3 Adventure....................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 Sightseeing..................................................................................................................... 16 4. Juneau .................................................................................................................. 17 4.1 Cruise industry............................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Flightseeing.................................................................................................................... 18 4.3 City tours........................................................................................................................ 18 4.4 Adventure....................................................................................................................... 20 4.5 Marine charters.............................................................................................................. 21 4.6 Tracy arm....................................................................................................................... 23 4.7 Pack Creek bear viewing ............................................................................................... 24 4.8 Hunting .......................................................................................................................... 25 4.9 Unguided independent travelers.................................................................................... 25 4.10 Juneau data caveats........................................................................................................ 27 5. Sitka ...................................................................................................................... 28 5.1 Cruise industry............................................................................................................... 29 5.2 Adventure....................................................................................................................... 29 5.3 City tours........................................................................................................................ 30 5.4 Sport fishing................................................................................................................... 31 5.5 Marine charter wildlife viewing/sightseeing ................................................................. 34 5.6 Hunting .......................................................................................................................... 35 5.7 Wilderness drop-offs...................................................................................................... 36 5.8 Sitka data caveats........................................................................................................... 37 6. Northern Southeast Alaska Yachts .................................................................... 38 6.1 Charter yachts................................................................................................................ 39 6.2 Private Yachts................................................................................................................ 39 7. Chichagof Island .................................................................................................. 40 7.1 Elfin Cove...................................................................................................................... 41 7.2 Pelican............................................................................................................................ 43 7.3 Tenakee Springs............................................................................................................. 46 7.4 Hoonah........................................................................................................................... 47 7.5 Chichagof Island via Sitka............................................................................................. 50 7.6 Chichagof via Juneau..................................................................................................... 52 7.7 Summary: Chichagof Island .......................................................................................... 54 7.8 Chichagof Island data caveats........................................................................................ 57 8. Prince of Wales Island ......................................................................................... 58 8.1 Overview........................................................................................................................ 58 8.2 Coffman Cove................................................................................................................ 63 8.3 Craig............................................................................................................................... 65 8.4 Kasaan............................................................................................................................ 67 8.5 Klawock ......................................................................................................................... 67 8.6 Naukati........................................................................................................................... 68 8.7 Thorne Bay..................................................................................................................... 68 8.8 Whale Pass..................................................................................................................... 69 8.9 Off-the-road-system lodges........................................................................................... 71 8.10 Prince of Wales data caveats.......................................................................................... 71 9. Petersburg ............................................................................................................ 72 10. Wrangell ............................................................................................................ 79 11. Conclusions...................................................................................................... 84 11.1 Key findings................................................................................................................... 84 11.2 Effective research methods............................................................................................ 86 Table of Tables and