Sitka Voters Reject Proposal to Limit Cruise Tourism

Voters in Sitka, Alaska, have decisively voted down a proposal that would have placed strict limits on cruise tourism. In a special election held Wednesday, 73% of voters rejected the measure, according to KCAW, with nearly 3,000 ballots cast.

The defeated initiative aimed to cap cruise visitor numbers to 4,500 per day and 300,000 annually beginning in 2025. It also included provisions for at least one “quiet day” per week without large cruise ships and would have required a permit system for vessel operations.

Chris McGraw, owner of Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, welcomed the outcome. “It shows that the community understands the benefits of cruise tourism and that the proposed ballot initiative wasn’t the right answer at this time,” he told KCAW. However, he acknowledged the concerns of those who supported the measure, noting that the cruise industry must remain proactive. McGraw and city officials currently abide by a memorandum of understanding that caps daily cruise visitors at 7,000.

Ballot initiative organizer Larry Edwards expressed hope that, despite the loss, the vote will ignite broader discussion about managing tourism in Sitka. The election result underscores ongoing tensions in popular cruise destinations between economic benefits and preserving community character and environmental quality.

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