Why Arctic cruise ship tourism is complicated
Nearly 1.7 million people visit Juneau, Alaska, between May and September, spilling into the city by the thousands each morning when their cruise ship docks.
On any given day, the capital of Alaska has a population of almost 32,000 people.
It’s easy to imagine the myriad effects, both good and bad, that the annual influx of tourism has on this small town. It’s harder to measure those effects and look for ways to mitigate the negative impacts while still protecting the economic benefits and allowing people to experience the jaw-dropping natural beauty that Juneau offers.
Joseph Little, chair and associate professor in the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance in The W. A. Franke College of Business at NAU, is part of a global interdisciplinary research team that is examining the effects of cruise ship tourism on Arctic communities.
Full story Why Arctic cruise ship tourism is complicated
