Managing Sustainable Tourism

Juneau, Alaska, USA with a population of about 30,000 residents, set a record in 2023 with 1.6 million cruise passengers, hosting as many as seven large cruise ships on the busiest days, with upwards of around 20,000 visitors. While these tourists bring in substantial revenue for the city, on the order of $375 million, they also bring issues related to overcrowding that have the city working to limit the number of guests. Ironically, Mendenhall Glacier, one of the premier attractions in Juneau, has been receding, primarily due to warming temperatures caused, in part, by overtourism. The glacier has receded the equivalent of eight football fields since 2007, leading many locals to worry that the tourists and associated revenue will eventually disappear with the glacier. Fortunately, Juneau has other attractions, including whale watching and rain forests, and can maintain their status as a tourist destination, provided they can develop and enact a plan for sustainable tourism.