Fairbanks.

• Author: Caserta, Cindy
• Position: Tourism in Fairbanks, Alaska

The state's second largest city is seeing a lot of green this time of year - and it's not just due to sun-rich vegetation.

Fairbanks is clothed in a healthy dose of tourism dollars.

Tourism is the second largest, private-sector employer in Fairbanks, preceded only by the mining industry. By the year 2000, state economists predict that tourism will be Fairbanks' largest employer - spreading even more wealth, and creating even more jobs for its residents. And it's not just those in the industry profiting; industry-related kickbacks into the community alone total more than $100 million annually - via expenditures on equipment, property enhancements, taxes, daily operating costs and fees.

The area, blessed with incredulous long hours of summer sunshine, is one of the state's favored vacation spots. Each year, visitors spend more than $128 million - about $75 per person, per day - in Alaska's Interior. During the summer, visitors are lured by the area's gold mining and rich history, by Denali National Park, by its abundant flora and fauna, by its tours and attractions, by its Native culture - and much, more.

In fact, nearly three-fourth of all visitors who participated in a 1997 survey about their Interior travels said that Denali National Park is a top attraction. More than half were lured by the TransAlaska pipeline. Forty-two percent chose wildlife viewing as their main reason to visit the Interior.

The area is also seeing an increase of off-seasonal and business-related tourism. The Fairbanks Visitor Information Center reported visitor increases during the shoulder season (May and September), as well as the winter season (February and March).

Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights and as such attracts many who are willing to brave well-below freezing temperatures for a glimpse of the dancing lights. Other winter attractions are dog sled tours and rides, alpine and cross-country skiing, snowmachining, and ice carving championships. Also popular are the area's four hot springs: Chena Hot Springs Resort, Arctic Circle Hot Springs Resort, Tolovana Hot Springs and Manley Hot Springs.

Meetings, conferences and conventions are also on the rise, with 1997 revenues from such totaling $15 million.

Although it is difficult to measure exact growth regarding the number of tourists coming to Fairbanks, there are several ways to evaluate trends. One is by looking at the city bed tax, which is paid by visitors who stay...