Social and economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism-based communities in Southeast Alaska

Abstract

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the abrupt suspension of cruise ship visits under the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s “No Sail Order” resulting in loss of jobs and revenues for coastal communities of Southeast Alaska. We conducted case studies in three Southeast Alaska communities to learn how they responded to the abrupt loss of cruise tourism and to the economic and social challenges of COVID-19. Through data gathered in focus groups and convenience surveys, we ascertained the strategies that sustained households, businesses, and cultures amid the health threat and economic uncertainty. The research concludes that residents, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and tribes pursued a variety of social, cultural, and economic strategies to withstand changes associated with COVID-19, including increased reliance on subsistence resources. Results also suggest that established social networks and community institutions play an important role in maintaining community resilience.

Citation

Powell, James E.; Cerveny, Lee K.; Kaminski, Abigail R.; Wilcox, Peggy; Colt, Steve. 2025. Social and economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism-based communities in Southeast Alaska. Current Issues in Tourism: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2025.2531232.