Juneau, Alaska, has introduced limits on cruise ships and passengers to alleviate the pressure on its residents and infrastructure. Local business owners, despite depending on cruise tourists for their livelihood, show support for these restrictions. One business, Caribou Crossings, owned by Laura McDonnell, exemplifies the intertwined nature of local commerce and the cruise industry, with 98% of its revenue stemming from visitors. The community emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between tourism and local life as Juneau faces a significant increase in tourist numbers, particularly cruise visitors.
"Southeast Alaska is a challenging place to live, and those of us live here because it's beautiful and because of the lifestyle that it offers. People in the visitor industry, myself included, are locals first, and protecting that balance in our communities is really important to us."
"McDonnell has worked at Caribou Crossings for 25 years, starting when she was 16. She said she 'grew up in that little store,'...it's a self-described 'typical Alaskan tourism love story' - and it's all thanks to Juneau's booming cruise industry, whose passengers account for 98% of the store's revenue."
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