In The News

Tourists aid Little Norway's economy

August 07, 2006

 

Petersburg Pilot,  Klas Stolpe 

Whether they arrive on a Cruise West vessel, a Alaska Marine Highway ferry, or belong to the label ‘yachties,’ nearly every visitor to Petersburg buys something… from books on Alaska and edibles from our grocery stores, to elegant works of art and hand-crafts… and they see something spectacular, be it the LeConte Glacier, Devil’s Thumb, or the hottest dance troupe in town, the Leikarring dancers. The bottom line is, however, the bottom line… our economy stays active.

“Sales tax and property taxes are the two highest revenue sources for the City of Petersburg,” commented City Financial Director Jean Mack.

In 2004, sales tax for the months of May – September was $1,441,928.14 and $1,129,555.08 for the remaining seven months of that year. Sales tax for 2005 was $1,385,249.83 for May – September and $1,204,131.50 for the remaining months. While local commerce keeps the city thriving year-round, tourists arguably give the summer months their spike as they travel in search of adventure, or a piece of it.

“Do you want to know the first place they want to go, or where we make them go?” a quadruple answer from four of Little Norway’s Cruise West representatives bubbled out in a humorous jest. “We bus them to the Sons of Norway Hall for the dancers first thing… they are usually really excited about that sort of stuff…”

With just four hours in Petersburg Cruise West passengers get the royal treatment from Little Norway based Kiana Kegel, Karine Rosvold, Lisa Schramek, and Alyssa Ward. Ward is working her seventh season for CW, Rosvold her fifth, Kegel third and Schramek is in her first year on the tour circuit.

“We like showing off our home town,” stated Rosvold. Added Schramek, “We like giving an insider’s perspective and it’s kind of nice to talk about some of the issues of Southeast.”

Shore excursions and dock walks are immensely popular as tourists sometimes get to watch first hand our local fishermen mending nets, canneries in full operation, or learn of our founding fathers. Even standing next to a Southeast Alaska purse seine vessel for a photograph can be a treat or having a sea lion ‘interrupt’ a dockside conversation.

The first Cruise West passengers unloaded are those that have filled up Wrangell’s jet boat operation Breakaway Charters. With just four hours they will whisk up to LeConte Glacier and be back as the dock lines are about to be hauled aboard. They do this twice a week with a Sunday trip every other week.

“We’ve been full each trip this summer,” jet-boat driver Dwight Yancey commented. “They’ve been over-booking us…”

With a capacity for 18 each trip, the Wrangell based operation gets a nice economic boost.

“Is it possible to have another boat available?” Spirit of Endeavor exploration guide Lisa Matlock asked as she prepared to off load jet boat hopefuls. “This tour is extremely popular. It’s new this year for us and we’ve filled it up every trip… they can pre-book and this week’s trip filled up before our people even stepped on board our boat… a lot of folks were disappointed because they really wanted to go. They could have filled up another trip easy.”

The next passengers off loaded head for a trio of buses and stopped to view the Leikarring dancers at the Sons of Norway. The 45-minute trip and show left them three hours to walk about Petersburg or take a pre-arranged tour.

“We have a Cruise West boat in every day,” said Ward. “But that includes Sheltered Seas four nights a week and they won’t be here next year.”

Cruise West’s Spirit of Endeavor and Spirit of 98 rotate weeks, each coming on a Tuesday and Saturday. There is a possibility the York Town Clipper, which had two stops this season, or the Spirit of Oceanus will stop more next season.

Once on the street, tourists flock to gift stores or for sundries or to take photos of eagles at the park.

“This year we have seen more independent travelers or private yachts that are repeat customers,” stated Seaport Gallery owner Fran Jones. “The cruise ships do spend some money and every little bit helps.”

While many tourists are led to believe that Juneau and Ketchikan have the best shopping, those that venture into Little Norway find out otherwise. Jones commented that she always receives positive remarks from people coming off the tour boats about the quality of Petersburg shops and, while told to shop in Juneau, they rave about our stores.

One elderly European man, holding the multi-bagged bounty his wife had found, commented, “Juneau shops are boring and corporate… we expected to find more of what Petersburg had there. My wife has spent two hours in there (points at Jones’ store).

“Just an hour,” the wife added.

Independent travelers also fill up hotels and bed and breakfasts, stay multiple days, sample various local taste treats, and interact more with our town characters.

“Our individual travel numbers are up a little over what they have been in the past,” Viking Travel owner Dave Berg commented. “It’s great for our local economy… cruise ship numbers are strong too… it seems like we are getting more family-oriented travel, with couples bringing their children along, looking for higher quality vacations in Alaska.”

When Petersburg visiting time ends travelers have seen, smelled, touched, tasted, and heard Little Norway; and Little Norway reciprocated.

“Did you have a great time?” Kegel, Rosvold, Schramek, and Ward gush in unison. “Come back again!”

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Cruise West – a second-generation, family-owned business based in Seattle – offers the opportunity to explore remote, worldwide locales by providing distinctive, one-of-a-kind, personalized itineraries not offered by the traditional larger cruise lines. Cruise West’s smaller ships – ten in all – hold between 70-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. The experience is personally enriching through expert Exploration Leaders providing onboard narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel. All have forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space for viewing and photographing wildlife and scenery. All vessels are also equipped with inflatable landing boats for close-up exploration of remote areas and shore landings.

Destinations served include: Alaska and the Bering Sea, British Columbia, Columbia & Snake Rivers, California Wine Country, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, Costa Rica & Panama, The U.S. eastern seaboard, the Caribbean, Japan, the South Pacific, the Kuril Islands, and the Great Lakes