Fairbanks businessman and former gubernatorial candidate John Binkley has been named to head a new association formed to burnish the cruise industry's image in Alaska.
Binkley, whose family operates the popular Riverboat Discovery tours in Fairbanks, will head the new Alaska Cruise Association. Binkley was also a longtime member of the Alaska Railroad Corp. board and is currently its chairman.
“John is a third-generation Alaskan whose knowledge of the state's visitor industry will be invaluable to our efforts,” said Peter Ratcliffe, Princess Cruises' chief executive officer. “John and his family operate two of Interior Alaska's most popular attractions, the Riverboat Discovery and the El Dorado Gold Mine. He is very well known in our industry and with Alaskans around the state.”
The cruise industry was stung last year by voter approval of a statewide ballot initiative imposing a $50 per passenger “head tax” on tourists visiting Alaska on cruise ships. The initiative also imposed new environmental restrictions on the large ships. Major cruise lines and many Alaska tourism businesses had campaigned vigorously, but unsuccessfully, against the tax.
Much of the support for the tax stemmed from frustrations felt by the public over congestion in small communities during the summer tour season and environmental violations in years past by some cruise vessels.
Binkley said he will be meeting with community leaders around the state to discuss concerns they have with the cruise industry. “In any industry or organization you strive to do better and to improve,” Binkley said. “We view this as an excellent opportunity to open up a dialogue with Alaskans about the cruise industry. We want to formalize a two-way conversation with the Alaska public. It's a key component of doing business in Alaska.”
The association will maintain an office in Anchorage, which will serve as Binkley's base.
