Juneau Cruise Control: Juneau CAN Rethink Tourism

FYI - the city manager responded to our inquiries on timing on Huna Totem/NCL project going before the planning commission for public approval, saying that the Committee of the Whole will be discussing the Huna Totem project with respect to amendments to the lease (not the CUP) at their July 13 meeting. From comments by Huna Totem representative, it sounds as if Huna Totem/NCL will be wanting to move the dock even more onto CBJ submerged lands towards Goldcreek to accommodate the Coast Guard.

Watch for the meeting agenda with details closer to that date. Ask questions, especially those the Assembly doesn't seem to be asking. And note that this consideration of amendments is an opportunity for CBJ to modify or reject amending the lease.

As for the claims that CBJ is going to get a ton of tax revenues from the new Huna Totem/NCL dock and from Goldbelt/RCCL port development, take a look at what the city currently assess the private AJ and Princess docks. And consider what a new dock is going to cost to construct, and the value of the business that comes into each dock (part of assessing business property).

Note, no timing/word on amended permit before Planning Commission, keep your eyes open.

Remember, Juneau COULD manage, permit, and limit tours through a permitting system, and we could tax tours at a higher rate.

Permitting tours would provide opportunities for a lot of valuable data collection to use in managing cruise ship tourism impacts, allow us to set very specific limits on specific tours (such as hours and days of week for helicopter, whale watch and others with broad impact or specific localized impacts).

We could also have a directed tax on tours, such as cigarette, alcohol and hotel-room taxes, that can go directly into the general fund and be used to support the community. Given the myriad of adverse impacts imposed onto residents by commercial tours, this seems a way for the industry to truly give back a bit. The hotel-room tax is now 9% + 5% sales tax, on overnighting tourism, which is what residents say we want more of. What if we imposed a 9% commercial tour tax + 5% sales (or whatever amount it ends up if a seasonal sales tax is passed) on 100% of the selling price to customer of every commercial tour in Juneau?

Below is information that has been shared with the Assembly and the VITF. Please, read it through and submit comments to the VITF at the Thursday, June 18 VITF public comment meeting or submit written comments emailed to [email protected] with forward to VITF or similar in the subject line so it gets forwarded appropriately. cc: [email protected]

McHugh Pierre, spokesperson for the opposition to Ship-Free Saturday ballot initiative in 2024, repeatedly said to give the negotiated limits in the MOAs a chance to work. Meanwhile, he was working behind the scenes with Royal Caribbean on a private cruise destination on West Douglas. Now, he tells the Visitor Industry Task Force he doesn't think the agreed limits are good public policy and that Goldbelt is not a signatory to the limits.

At the same meeting, Chairperson Ella Atkinson shared that the Assembly is talking about putting the limits of the MOAs into law, given the Bar Harbor decision (which supports a community limiting cruise ship tourism when tourism is at high season).

Lots afoot, most of it quietly out of public eye. Stay vigilant.

‘We don't think that's good public policy’: Goldbelt criticizes five-ship limit, shares details on proposed cruise port The port project will need approval from the city’s planning commission to move forward, which requires public comment before a vote. Juneau’s city manager said it’s hard to say how long that process…

This is what the cruise industry appears to be up to in Santorini, Greece, where a hard limit of 8,000 passengers per day (based on a study of carrying capacity) exists. Santorini leaders accuse cruise lines of manipulating disembarkation to create crowding to help sell their tours to avoid the crowding! If it this is happening in Greece, what's happening in Juneau?

Of additional note to Juneau, the assertion in the third paragraph below. The "unauthorized development in Vlychada" is a Royal Caribbean project. Royal Caribbean is behind Goldbelt's West Douglas plans.

Link to Greek Reporter article in comments.

Have thoughts on Juneau's visitor industry? Here's your chance to be heard! The Visitor Industry Task Force invites public testimony at their next meeting:

When: Thursday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Assembly Chambers and online at juneau.zoom.us/j/83826098583

The task force is drafting recommendations for the CBJ Assembly on tourism management — and they want your input. If you plan on providing testimony remotely, be sure to call the City Clerk’s Office at 907-586-5278 before 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Can't make it? Email your comments to the Clerk’s Office at [email protected].

Read more about the VITF at bit.ly/cbjvitf.

Tonight, June 11, 5:30pm, city hall and on Zoom, the Visitor Industry Task Force will hear from Goldbelt. Rather than presenting specifics on their plans, it appears they will be building a case for their project. Preview their presentation and find meeting links in comments below.

We also note, that at public comment next week (June 18, 5:30pm) each member of the public will be limited to 3 minutes. Goldbelt has an entire meeting. Huna Totem had much of a meeting. The whale watch and flight seeing industries had two meetings each. Send written comments to [email protected] and ask your comment be forwarded to the VITF.

Should Alaska be allowing ships with known propulsion issues to come into our waters? Just recently, media has reported that the NCL Bliss and the Zaandam have been cruising with known propulsion issues.

Remember when the Coral Princess lost all power and drifted in Juneau Harbor in 2019?

https://alaskapublic.org/news/2020-05-13/coast-guard-details-blackout-that-left-princess-cruise-ship-adrift-in-juneau

Zaandam will miss this week’s stop in Juneau due to ongoing mechanical issues Cruise ship delays departure from Vancouver for at least a day as work on propulsion system continues, passengers allowed to spend night aboard docked vessel.

We could do with less cruise tourism.

Unfilled seasonal positions. Huge pressure on year round housing.

https://www.alaskax.com/Home/Career?fbclid=IwZnRzaASW0oFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEexUTq-Rvyt4Fck3JkbiyLW26xzTwflq4nrSH2v3yrP7SN8gRPOousulXVTPg_aem_oGjDnegbtKk5YoIKzqiskg

AlaskaX Alaska X is the leading tour operator in Alaska providing experiences of a lifetime in Skagway, Haines, & Juneau, Alaska. In town? Come visit us!

Huna Totem/NCL Juneau Dock

Clear intention to blow past the voluntary limit of 16,000 cruise ship passengers in Juneau is stated in this application. As well, the stated intent to begin construction in September 2026.

"The purpose of the [Aak'w Landing Development] is to construct a cruise ship dock and seawalk adjacent to downtown Juneau. The new dock, which would accommodate a class of increasingly larger cruise ships and their passengers, is needed to provide additional safe harbor in Juneau and allow docked ships to spread out across the waterfront, while eliminating ship-to-shore boat trips and reducing marine traffic congestion in Gastineau Channel."