Tourism-boosting legislation introduced in Senate

Cruise liner Le Soléal departs Orca Inlet. (Aug. 21, 2019) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times
Cruise liner Le Soléal departs Orca Inlet. (Aug. 21, 2019) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times

Alaska’s congressional delegation now is working both houses of Congress in hope of clearing the way for cruise ships departing Washington state to bring visitors to the state this summer, a move critical to the tourism industry.

The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, aimed at alleviating Passenger Vessel Services Act restrictions for cruise ships traveling between the states, was introduced on Friday, March 5, in the Senate. It is a companion bill to legislation introduced earlier in the House.

The legislation was prompted by a Canadian interim order prohibiting cruise ships from navigating, mooring, anchoring or berthing in Canadian waters until Feb. 28, 2022, or until such time as the Canadian government lifts that prohibition, imposed to protect its citizens from the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Canada’s recent decision to prohibit Alaska-bound cruise ships from operating in Canadian waters creates legal hurdles that will hamstring the Alaska cruise season, creating additional economic strain on Alaska’s entire economy, especially in our Southeast communities,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

Since the pandemic reached Alaska early in 2020, the state has seen double-digit employment declines in Southeast and a more than 30% drop in revenue statewide, Murkowski said. Missing a second cruise season would only compound the economic fallout that has been devastating for many families, she said. By providing this technical fix to the PVSA for Alaska-bound crise ships from Washington, we are taking significant steps toward safely resuming cruise ship activity and economic certainty at a time when Alaska needs it most, she said.

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