“Another season without tourism in Southeast Alaska is just not an option.”
Posted / Edited by MARY KAUFFMAN
April 05, 2021
Monday afternoon
(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska – The Alaska State House was last handed over Joint Senate Resolution 9, sponsored by Senator Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) to encourage the United States Congress and President Biden to temporarily suspend federal laws that are currently blocking all chances for large cruise lines to visit the state. The Passenger Vessel Services Act requires large cruise ships to stop in at least one international port. On February 2, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government closed its ports to cruise ships for the entire 2021 season.
The resolution called on Congress to grant an exemption from a federal law requiring cruise ships to stop in a foreign port in order to sail to Alaska. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has banned cruise lines of more than 100 people from sailing Canadian waters, effectively preventing a tourism season here.
As cruise resumes elsewhere in the world, workers and businesses in Alaska need the ability to trade safely with COVID. SJR 9 recognizes the October 2020 Framework for the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for Cruise Ships in U.S. waters. This arrangement requires strict health measures to ensure the safety of the US ports.
“With over 2 million visitors to Alaska each year, many families in Alaska depend on a successful tourism season to put food on the table and have a roof over their heads,” said Sen. Kiehl. “In 2019, tourism was responsible for Alaska’s economic activity of $ 4 billion. We can’t afford to miss a second straight season. With the spread of vaccinations, we have the tools we need to keep Alaskans and visitors safe. That can give Alaska workers and businesses a chance. “
“The economy on the Alaskan coast relies on cruise ship tourism, which drew 90 percent of our visitors in the year before the pandemic,” said Rep. Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan). “Another lost season could be a fatal blow to many companies hanging by a thread, and I beg our federal partners to find sensible alternatives that will help companies get back on their feet.”
“During the pandemic, Alaskans have found creative ways to keep their businesses going and protect communities,” added Sara Hannan, Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau). “The federal government also needs to get creative and find a way to bring cruises back this summer. Another season without tourism in Southeast Alaska is just not an option. “
“Tourism is a critical part of Alaska’s economy. It generates more than $ 214 million in state and municipal revenues and over $ 2 billion in visitor spending,” said Rep. Andi Story (D- Juneau). “We need tourism to get back to Alaska so our state can enter a recovery phase where businesses, families and individuals can get back to work and get back on the ground.”
SJR 9 voted 38-2 on an amendment in the Alaska House. The resolution will be sent back to the Alaska Senate for final approval and then forwarded to the White House, the Alaska Congressional Delegation, and other members of the 117th Congress.
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act on March 3 to ease the restrictions of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) on cruise lines carrying passengers between Washington state and Alaska promote, loosen. If this legislation is passed, cruise lines will be able to sail to Alaska without stopping in Canada, as US law normally requires. US Congressman Don Young (R-AK) recently introduced an accompanying bill in the House of Representatives.
Canada Interim Ordinance No. 5 on Compliance with Restrictions on Passenger Ships Due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Prohibits cruise lines from navigating, mooring, anchoring, or mooring in Canadian waters until February 28, 2022, or until the government of Canada lifts the ban.
Cruise Industry News In mid-March, Hannah Ray, spokeswoman for US Senator Lisa Murkowski, reported that no vote for the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act was planned in the US Senate.
According to Cruise Industry NewsThe bill is seen as a “first step” in conducting cruises in Alaska and was not part of the recently passed COVID-19 relief package that many in the cruise industry believed appropriate. The Alaska Tourism Recovery Act therefore needs to be part of a larger piece of legislation or be voted on, which could take months.
On the Internet:
SitNews – March 22, 2021
SitNews – March 22, 2021
Laws were passed in the U.S. Senate to support the Alaskan cruise season
SitNews – March 07, 2021
SitNews – February 28, 2021
C.Anada struck Alaska’s cruise line industry
SitNews – February 14, 2021
News source:
Alaska House Coalition
www.akleg.gov
Alaskan Senate Democrats
www.akleg.gov
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