Exploring the Potential of Ship-Free Saturdays: My Take on Embracing a Day Without Deliveries

I’m a 30-year resident of Juneau and I’m voting “yes” on Ship-Free Saturday (and July 4) to aid in Juneau’s recovery from excessive tourism growth.

In 1990, cruise ship passenger numbers in Juneau stood at 237,000. By 2000, this number had ballooned to 689,000, and by 2023, it had surged to 1.67 million. With the current rate of five ships per day and an existing passenger cap, the forecast for 2025 still predicts about 1.5 million visitors. Considering the pressure on housing, transportation, and local resources, plus issues like noise and environmental pollution, one must wonder if such growth is sustainable for a small city.

Several residents have put forward financial strategies, such as adjusting the passenger head tax for inflation and implementing a seasonal sales tax managed by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ). These measures, already successful in other cities, are worth considering for Juneau as well.

Those of us living here and participating in the community deeply understand our connection to Juneau. It transcends being a mere emotional attachment; it’s about upholding the values that respect both the local people and the environment. This involves keeping certain areas exclusive for residents like hiking trails and fishing locations, rather than allowing increased tourist activity. The solution lies not in expanding tourist access to more parks and trails, but in preserving and protecting these areas, while managing where and how tourism integrates with our community.

What would I do with Ship-Free Saturdays?

I would enjoy peaceful hikes at the glacier, serene kayak trips along Gastineau Channel and around Sandy Beach, and safe cycling through the downtown area.

I would take guests visiting independently to the heart of the city, patronize local businesses and restaurants, and participate in community-centered activities like the “First Saturday” concerts in Marine Park.

I would endorse a robust Visitor Industry Task Force with representation from city officials, tourism professionals, economists, citizen scientists, and conservation experts from Juneau. This team would work together towards a common goal of sustaining and honoring the natural terrestrial and marine environments of Juneau through a well-defined sustainable tourism strategy.

A vote for Ship-Free Saturday acknowledges that working together to protect Juneau’s lands, air and marine environment is a vote for sustainability, and a vote for protecting Juneau’s future. Ongoing over-tourism endangers the natural resources on which the cruise industry relies.

Please vote “yes” for Ship-Free Saturday.

• Jo Boehme has been a registered Juneau voter since 1994. She worked as a healthcare professional at Bartlett Regional Hospital for 26 years.

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