Alaska Threatens a Halt to Calling at BC Ports

Alaska has added threats to B.C.’s tourism industry in the increasingly bitter trade war between Canada and the U.S.

In a talk radio interview, Alaska’s U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan floated the idea of applying for an exemption from the law that requires cruise ships heading to Alaska from the lower 48 to stop in British Columbia. If congress were to pass an exemption law or the president were to issue an executive order to that effect, skipping Canadian ports would result in the loss of  “billions”  for the province, the senator claims.

“It is a bit of a dangerous game,” Sullivan said, according to Anchorage Daily News. “You know, Canada, you don’t want to mess with Alaska,” Sullivan went on. “If you do, we’re going to work hard on having our cruise ships bypass your ports, and that’ll help our economy tremendously, it’ll help our tourism industry tremendously, and it’ll really hurt their tourism.”

There is precedent for such an exemption to the rule: during the pandemic when international travel was restricted, Alaskan cruises bypassed Canadian ports. At the time, the U.S. Senator from Alaska, Lisa Murkowski argued that making the change permanent would be a boost to Alaska tourism business.

Tariffs aren’t the only thing that may impact Alaska’s tourism this year. The draw of the state’s National Parks has been a major contributor to tourism, now facing slashed budgets. Extensive cuts to staff and funding may have a detrimental effect that is felt across the state. Lee Hart, from the Alaska Outdoor Alliance told Alaska’s News Source “My concern is that we could see facilities’ closure or reduced level, so the level of services could be cut,” said Hart. ”Because these public land managers, if they have less staff, are going to have to make some hard decisions."

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