Alaska has held fast in the travel business despite 9-11, SARS and the war in Iraq.

"In a world where events are uncertain, Alaska is attractive," Deeb said. "The real draw of Alaska is the scenery - the national parks, the wildlife, the terrain of the last frontier. There's a real draw to go up and see Alaska because of its pristine beauty."

Alaska also benefits from its proximity of being a five or six-hour flight from most cities.

The top 10 destination list was determined by purchases of iExplore's adventure packages.

Topping the list for 2003 was the Galapagos Islands, replacing China in the No. 1 slot. Following the Galapagos Islands were Peru, Egypt, China, Cuba, Alaska, Antarctica, Australia, Belize and Nepal.

"It is not surprising given the turbulent world events of the last year, that the remote and fascinating Galapagos Islands topped the list in 2003," Deeb said.

"China fell from its top position given the impact of SARS earlier in the year and Cuba benefited as several legal cultural tourism licenses expired at year end, creating a sense of urgency to see Cuba before it was too late."

Anchorage visitors guide now available

The 2004 Official Anchorage Visitors Guide is now available.

The free guide, produced by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), is a trip-planning tool and contains local and statewide activities, a pullout map and sample itineraries.

The guide, along with the ACVB's Web site, www.anchorage.net, is used by visitors and locals.

The 128-page guide features new sections such as Kids Corner, Camp Out, Fish On, Winter Wonderland and a 2004 events calendar.

It offers 30 pages of information, including year-round activities, transportation options, a gear guide and day tour options.

To obtain a copy call 800-478-1255 or go to the Web site.

Denali Wilderness Lodge won't open

The Denali Wilderness Lodge, which began as a hunting camp in 1907, is the latest victim of the tourism slump in Alaska.

The remote lodge in the midst of some of the state's most spectacular scenery won't open for business in 2004. The lodge is located in the middle of the Alaska Range and for many years has catered to eco-tourists.

"It's a sad fallout from post-Sept. 11 travel patterns, poor economy and heavy discounting by the cruise industry," said Eric Downey, vice president of marketing for Denali Lodges. "Unfortunately, it couldn't compete on a commercial scale with all of the other Denali properties in a poor market. When Alaska's tourism industry suffers, it's usually the small roadhouses, local restaurants and independent businesses that get harmed the most."

To get to the lodge, visitors flew 25 minutes in a small airplane from the entrance area of Denali National Park and Preserve. The lodge consists of more than 20 log buildings, including a main lodge. Visitors could enjoy horseback riding, wildlife viewing and hiking in a spectacular setting.

Hunting guide Lynn Castle bought the site in 1965, called it "Wood River Lodge," and built most of the buildings that are there today. The main lodge once housed his trophy animal collection. He changed the name to its present moniker when he decided to lure eco-tourists, instead of hunters.

The chalet-style home he built there in the late 1980s was once featured in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The lodge also was the site of a boys' summer camp, "Camp Grizzly," in the 1970s and 1980s.

Castle died in a plane crash in 1991 and the lodge has changed hands twice since then. Current owner Sham Idnani also owns Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna and Denali Cabins in the McKinley Village area. Those establishments will be open in 2004.

Railroad plans to add coaches, first class

The Alaska Railroad aims to take the "coach" out of passenger coaches.

Beginning with two new double-decker passenger cars, the company expects to add a costlier, first-class option for ticket buyers by the 2005 tourist season.

Railroad officials say the new cars will help update the fleet and increase passenger capacity. The railroad has not decided on a manufacturer, although Colorado Railcar of Fort Lupton, Colo., is a likely choice.

The new cars will carry about 70 passengers in a domed upper level, while a large galley, or kitchen, will fill the lower section.

Premium seating has been a common request, Alaska Railroad spokesman Pat Flynn told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

"A lot of people call and say, 'Is there an upgraded service available?'" Flynn said.

The railroad has not decided yet how much a first-class ticket will cost or what services will go along with it.

Offering first-class seating has worked well for a Canadian company.

British Columbia-based Great Canadian Railtour Co. operates Rocky Mountaineer Railtours, which ferries passengers between Vancouver, B.C., and Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta.

In 1995, that company began offering a more expensive, first-class service in two-story coaches.

Graham Gilley, Rocky Mountaineer Railtours vice president of marketing, said the first-class seating was a hit with customers, and by February the company will have a fleet of 12 premium cars.

The Canadian company's upgraded service costs twice as much as a regular ticket, but now accounts for 50 percent of sales, Gilley said. The feature generated just 5 percent of sales when it was introduced less than 10 years ago.

Rocky Mountaineer Railtours' new passenger coaches were produced by Colorado Railcar and cost about $3.5 million per car, Gilley said.

The Alaska Railroad is owned by the state of Alaska but not paid for through the state's general fund. Passenger services account for about 15 percent of its revenue.

The company has 21 passenger-seating coaches and carried 113,284 passengers during the 2003 summer season.

Some of the coaches are more than 50 years old, and, at times during the summer, every piece of passenger equipment is in use, Flynn said.

"This will add some flexibility for when trains sell out. We can add more coaches," Flynn said.

- By the Journal Staff and The Associated Press.