Recreation and Tourism in South-Central Alaska: Synthesis of Recent Trends and Prospects

Brooks, David J.; Haynes, Richard W. 2001. Recreation and tourism in South Central Alaska: synthesis of recent trends and prospects. General Technical Report GTR-PNW-XXX. Portland, OR. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. XX p. Tourism has been the fastest-growing component of Alaska's economy for the past decade and is an important export sector for the regional economy. Opportunities to participate in outdoor recreation are also an important component of the quality of life for residents of Alaska. Therefore, successful planning for the Chugach National Forest will require an understanding of (1) recreation and tourism as an economic sector; (2) factors contributing to growth in activity in South Central Alaska; and (3) prospective future levels and types of demand. Using the framework of a sectoral analysis, a variety of data sources reveal similar trends and patterns of activity. Recreation demand models, based on cross-sectional data, illustrate the importance of demographic and economic factors as determinants of demand. Implications for management and planning include the need to understand whether and when management actions to increase the recreation services of forested landscapes conflict with other management objectives, such as maintaining or enhancing wildlife habitat. Continuing growth in recreation and tourism in South Central Alaska is likely, although in the near future, the rate of growth may be slower than was the case in the early 1990s. While the demographic and economic characteristics of the population of Anchorage are similar to those of the lower 48, patterns of recreation use (activities and frequency) differ across residents and non-residents. Based on both recreation demand models and key respondent interviews, the fastest growth in demand is likely to be in viewing wildlife and scenery and in ‘‘soft adventure’’ activities that offer a combination of comfort and outdoor recreation-based excitement. The increasing importance of recreation and tourism presents challenges for communities as well as resource managers in Alaska.