Cruise ship docks in Skagway, Alaska for the first time in 21 months
Cruise ship a welcome sign for hard hit tourism town: mayor
For the first time in nearly two years, a cruise ship has arrived in Skagway, Alaska.
On Friday, the American Constellation docked in the city, with passenger in tow — a much welcomed sign for local businesses that heavily depend on the cruise ship industry to stay afloat.
“If you’d asked me a couple of months ago if we were going to have a cruise ship coming in by now, I would have not thought it possible,” said Andrew Cremata, Skagway’s mayor.
But after two-and-a-half months without a case of COVID-19 in Skagway, things, he said, are starting to get back to normal.
Businesses open
Restaurants are open and streetcar tours are running, and more cruise ships are set to arrive after 21 months without one.
“It’s been pretty devastating for the businesses here,” Cremata said.
“Not only is it losing the [cruise ship] season, but it’s losing our economy because it’s 95, 96 per cent based on cruise ship traffic.”
While he’s cautiously optimistic the city will see a return to pre-COVID-19 levels of cruise ship passenger numbers, he thinks the ramifications of the pandemic will take years — if not decades — to fully comprehend.
“Now the only missing piece of the puzzle is for that Canadian border to open so that you guys can come see us and we can come see you,” he said.
“Everyone here comments every day. I hear it repeatedly and I’m guilty of saying it as well: ‘Man, I can’t wait for the border to open.'”
-With files from Paul Tukker and Midday Cafe
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: COVID-19 outbreak declared in capital of Canada’s northwestern Yukon territory, CBC News
Finland: Finland implements mandatory COVID-19 testing at all Lapland border crossings, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland to ease group limits, social distancing rules on June 15, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norwegians with holiday homes in Sweden lose court case, Radio Sweden
Russia: COVID-19 infections are increasing in Russia’s Northwest, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: At least 16,000 in Sweden have long COVID, Radio Sweden
