Skift Take
Many Juneau residents, despite their ballot measure’s defeat, have sent a clear message to city and industry leaders: more action is needed to combat overtourism.
The anticipated tally is not yet finalized, but it seems that large cruise ships will still be permitted to dock in Juneau on Saturdays. The recent "Ship-Free Saturdays" ballot measure, aimed at prohibiting cruise ships with more than 250 passengers from docking on Saturdays and July 4th, was not passed, with more votes against it than in favor.
Out of 9,633 cast votes, 5,788 were against while 3,751 supported the initiative. As over 1,000 ballots remain to be counted, the final results will be certified on October 15, with additional electoral updates expected on October 11.
Voting took place via mail from September 12 to October 1. Karla Hart, a proponent of the measure, commented that although it’s likely the measure will be defeated, the significant number of supporters indicates a need for greater awareness and action to address the effects of tourism on local residents.
Juneau, home to about 32,000 people, saw a record influx of 1.65 million visitors last year, with some days experiencing up to 20,000 cruise ship passengers. This city stands as a favored port on Alaska cruise itineraries, attracting major cruise lines.
Hart believes the measure’s substantial support will pressure local leaders and the cruise industry to take effective steps toward mitigating tourism’s impact on the community.
Opposition to the ballot initiative was strong, especially from the cruise and tourism sectors, which channeled considerable resources to fight it. The Alaska Travel Industry Association stated their stance against the measure, with several companies threatening legal action if it passed. A coalition known as Protect Juneau’s Future aimed to spend over $600,000 to oppose the initiative.
Chair of the coalition, McHugh Pierre, indicated it was too soon for definitive victory claims but asserted the opposition was effective and they awaited the final results.
Notably, this year, the city, along with cruise companies, implemented a daily cap on large cruise ship dockings, limiting the number to five. Next season will further impose caps on daily passenger counts: 16,000 from Sunday to Friday and 12,000 for Saturdays.
The economic impact of cruise visitors has been substantial, generating $30 million in direct spending and contributing $3.7 million to municipal revenue on Saturdays, according to city data. Alaska’s popularity as a cruise destination has surged this year, reflecting increasing demand in the market.
