Alaska needs budget doubled after attack

Alaska needs budget doubled after attack

ALASKA is lobbying state and industry officials for its tourism budget to be doubled, to $12.5 million.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association says it needs a big increase from the 2001 budget of $6.5 million to recover from the effects of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11.

The US state also needs additional money, as its main source of tourism – cruising – has put more ships into the region after switching from the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. The extra tourism numbers will put pressure on the region’s resources.

Currently, $4.5 million of the existing budget comes from the state and £2 million from the travel industry. However, the association is asking for emergency funding to meet growing demand.

International trade director Carole Marshall said: “There has been a big shift in the cruise market from Europe and Africa to us. Geographically we have not been affected much by September’s events.”

She said the state expects to have strong tourism next year and in 2003.

Cruise companies including Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have already told Alaska they will switch their product to the state. Domestic tourism will also be highlighted by Alaska.