The crowded bandwagon: tourism forecast 1996.

• Author: Ajango, Deb
• Position: 1996 forecast of Alaska's tourism industry - Industry Overview

1996 looks like another record year for Alaska's apparently unstoppable visitor industry. And more areas are opening up as businesses tap the lucrative tourism market.

A record number of visitors are expected to flock to the Far North again this year, according to industry experts. While large package-tour operators are awaiting the usual crowds, newer kids on the tourism-industry block-adventure-tour entrepreneurs and Native-run businesses - are eagerly anticipating the economic influx as well.

For the past several years, the tourism industry has grown in numbers, averaging a visitor increase of 6 percent annually. Even with canceled cruises last year, which resulted in the loss of thousands of visitors and dollars, the state welcomed more tourists than ever before. Roughly 1.1 million visitors came to Alaska in 1995. And, Tina Lindgren, executive director of the Alaska Visitor Association (AVA), estimates that, "Just over 1.2 million visitors will see the state this season."

Many Alaskans are jumping on the visitor-industry bandwagon. Here's a look at some of the players, their expectations for the upcoming season, and a tour of the state to see how various residents and economies will be affected by the crowds.

Cruising for profits

With more scenic coastline than the Lower 48 states combined, it's small wonder that cruising remains at the core of the state's tourism industry. In 1996, 39 cruise ships from 18 cruise lines are scheduled to float the northern waters. These visitor - as many as 437,000 cruise-ship passengers could visit Ketchikan this season - will contribute to Southeast's economy and provide employment opportunities in the area.

People who live along the cruise-ship routes aren't the only ones looking forward to the 1996 season, however. Typically, cruise-ship passengers combine their water trips with visits to Alaska's parks, rivers, cities or villages. In fact, most cruise lines offer not only port tours and excursions, but land, air or rail extension options as well.

Holland America Line-Westours Inc., for example, the state's largest cruise and tour company, operates the big ships, but it also owns Gray Line of Alaska bus tours and Westmark Hotels. After enjoying the serene waters of Southeast, passengers on Holland tours can continue on to Anchorage, Denali Park, Fairbanks or other areas of the state. With this package option, many businesses working with Holland or located along the tour routes are expecting to cash...