In Alaska, a Wilderness to Call Your Own (Whittier: condos, homes)

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by notreesininceland

With all the outsiders discovering Alaska, it won't be long before the hordes stream in and ruin the place. I think it is time for AIP to begin a fresh recruitment drive.

Whenever I finally move to my land I'm joining the AIP first thing.

You should see what all the hordes of "flatlanders" did to my home state...

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by notreesininceland

Mass tourism is a slippery slope. Once the locals get hooked on to easy money that it brings, it can quickly spin out of control. What saves Alaska from the corrosive effects of mass tourism are the harsh weather conditions for much of the year, which discourage the casual drive-by visitor.

Yep, the tourists are just like the skeeters, they magically appear enmasse when the temperature hits a certain mark, then disappear just as quickly around the first freeze!

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by notreesininceland

Mass tourism is a slippery slope. Once the locals get hooked on to the easy money that it brings, it can quickly spin out of control.

I totally agree with you on this point. What is happening in the economy right now, and with the tourist industry rebelling to the "head tax" on each ship passenger, '09 and '10 are gonna suck, and most places have forgotten how to make a living any other way.
There may be an influx of "new residents" soon, but they're gonna find out you have to work for a living, and it ain't there for now.

I personally think the person who wrote that article is stupid. They probably paid 2 grand total to spend 2 nights in a damp cabin.

[Metlakatla]

It seems to me though that the carpetbaggers are a bit more hooked on the tourism industry than the locals in some places.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

It seems to me though that the carpetbaggers are a bit more hooked on the tourism industry than the locals in some places.

very true.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

It seems to me though that the carpetbaggers are a bit more hooked on the tourism industry than the locals in some places.

When all the towns along the Gulf enacted the "Head Tax", made good revenue for the rest of that season, or even a couple of years, but then things got as dry as a "Popcorn fart" and the ships are bypassing those towns after everyone had geared up for them. Now they are going broke trying to wait for the ships to come back...

The greed went both ways, the Tour Ships, and the local City councils that weren't smart enough to realize they cut off their nose to spite their face.

The Cities planned their budget off the money they expected from the Ship's and it didn't happen, to make it worse, they spent the money they didn't yet have... Kinda like the Federal Government is doing...

[Metlakatla]

Well--I haven't noticed Petersburg going broke...Skagway, on the other hand, has so little there for the local residents that the population of the school has been steadily declining in recent years.

I like the way that tourism is done on POW better. Instead of being dumped off for a day to buy trinkets from off-shore carpetbaggers, people come for two weeks or so, some longer. They support real local businesses, get to know the real residents, and learn something about what real life is like there.

Some of them give some pretty good cocktail parties on the beach, too

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Well--I haven't noticed Petersburg going broke...Skagway, on the other hand, has so little there for the local residents that the population of the school has been steadily declining in recent years.

I like the way that tourism is done on POW better. Instead of being dumped off for a day to buy trinkets from off-shore carpetbaggers, people come for two weeks or so, some longer. They support real local businesses, get to know the real residents, and learn something about what real life is like there.

Some of them give some pretty good cocktail parties on the beach, too

I think that Whitter was one of the first to start the head tax, then the ships rerouted to Seward and have the cattle ride up on the Train from there. Besides, Whitter has no good beaches there to have cocktail parties at anyway, all rock...

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by starlite9

I think that Whitter was one of the first to start the head tax, then the ships rerouted to Seward and have the cattle ride up on the Train from there. Besides, Whitter has no good beaches there to have cocktail parties at anyway, all rock...

Has Whittier ever been much of a year-round community? It seems from what I recall there's just one huge building where most people live.

[mal_flisk]

Yeah, I think it's the Begich building. According to Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, Whittier is a town where everyone lives in the same building.