Still reeling from the blow of a referendum
passed by Alaska voters that slapped the major cruise lines with a
host of new taxes and regulations, eight cruise lines have formed a
group to improve relations with Alaska communities affected by the
cruise industry.
John Binkley,
current chairman of the Alaska Railroad, a former state senator and
a candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary last year, will
head the new group, to be called the Alaska Cruise Association. He
is a native of Fairbanks, and his family has been in the Alaska
steamboat tourism business since 1920.
John is a
third-generation Alaskan whose knowledge of the states visitor
industry will be invaluable to our efforts, said Peter Ratcliffe,
CEO of Princess Cruises, one of the associations founding
members.
The other members
are Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean
International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Crystal
Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Binkley hopes to build a
base of local businesses involved with the cruise industry to be
associate members.
Binkley said the
cruise lines were committed to be open to new ideas about business
practices that would benefit Alaskan communities.
The association
will be based in Anchorage. Binkley will travel to the many towns
and villages in Alaska that are impacted by cruise ships to find
out how they can economically benefit more from the industry, and
to also explain how the communities already benefit.
Days after
announcing the formation of the organization, Binkley met with the
Kenai Chamber of Commerce and the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
I like getting out
and learning, engaging people, discussing Alaska and our economy
and creating more opportunities for people, Binkley said. Those are
the kinds of things I like to do. It will suit me very well.
To
contact reporter Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].