Denelle Kelly. “Ketchikan Looks to Non-Cruise Visitors to Boost Business in Upcoming Season.” Ketchikan Daily News. March 20, 2021.

The past volumes of cruise tourism in Southeast Alaska have tended to overshadow the region’s independent travel sector. But these independent vistors — aptly described by local lodge owner Russell Thomas as the “icing on the cake” of the travel industry — are expected to sweeten the 2021 visitor season in Ketchikan for local business owners.

Several local travel professionals and touristbased business owners shared their experiences from 2020 as well as their predictions and hopes about independent visitors boosting business in the upcoming season via phone conversations with the Daily News this past week.

“People want to come to Alaska, it is the trip of a lifetime. September is the fall silver salmon run and self-guided anglers are crazy about our cohos — after all, Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world,” said Nadra Angerman.

Co-owner of Chinook Shores Lodge Nadra Angerman said that their business is positioned well to enter the 2021 season strong, as it has always has been dependent mostly on independent travelers.

To adapt to the pandemic, all employees at the facility completed the TSS Covid Clean program and they required all guests to take a resortfunded covid test before coming to town.

The resort, which offers several beach houses and fishing excursions to its guests is expecting to be fully booked for the 2021 season, she said.

“September is the fall silver salmon run and self-guided anglers are crazy about our cohos — after all, Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world,” she said.

She strongly emphasized her concern and empathy for businesses in town that fully relied on cruise passengers and would likely be struggling for another season. Although the
lodge will continue to welcome independent tourists in 2021, they did lose some revenue in 2020 due to mitigations such as cutting guided fishing trips and allowing only self-guided fishing; canceling all reservations from New York and New Jersey residents when the outbreak in those areas were high; and nearly doubling their cleaning crew’s duties when heightened sanitation became a requirement.

She said that the resort did welcome about 400 guests in 2020, and they achieved zero COVID-19 infections.

Angerman pointed out, via a text message earlier this week, the advantages that independent tourists bring to town, such as their need to shop locally during three-to-14-night stays at the lodge.

In a press release shared via email,Angerman described an online shopping program that the business implemented in partnership with the Alaskan and Proud Market that would
eliminate the need for guests to physically shop in local stores as a way to minimize contact with locals.
She expressed optimism for the future of “It is the trip of a lifetime.”