Summer tourism in Interior Alaska anticipating a record number return

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - A record number of summer tourists is anticipated in Interior Alaska this coming summer, from May through July. Many visitors are attracted to the land of the midnight summer sun and the fun activities.

As summer approaches, Alaska tourism expects to recover from the past two years of uncertainty. Explore Fairbanks compiles tourism data from previous years and puts together the best activities and adventures for visitors to experience in Interior Alaska.

Celebration of the summer is a staple in the Interior, with events like the Midnight Sun Festival and Golden Days. Gold panning and riverboat tours, as well as trips to Denali, Alaska’s number one destination, are projected to receive record numbers of visitors.

Expressing optimism about the coming 2022 summer travel season, Explore Fairbanks’ President and CEO, Scott McCrea, stated, “We should see the return of the Cross Gulf of Alaska Cruise Land Tours that bring roughly in the past 41% of our visitors coming back.”

In weeks prior, McCrea mentioned there was a decreasing number of International travelers compared to pre-pandemic travelers. “If there are no changes within the coming months due to Covid-19,” McCrea said, “International visitors are coming back.”

McCrea went on to add, “Highway travelers being able to cross the border from Canada to Alaska, all of those core markets make up the bulk of our summer visitation.”

More information on Summer Tourism can be found on ExploreFairbanks.com.