Tourism

Alaska's many national parks, immense wilderness, diverse and abundant wildlife, and awe-inspiring landscapes attract millions of tourists annually. Between May 2023 and April 2024, over 3 million out-of-state visitors traveled to Alaska (Alaska's population in 2024 was 730,000). Almost 90% of these visitors came to Alaska in summer, and more than 2/3 arrived by cruise ship. 95% of Alaskan tourists are visiting from other states of the U.S. Canada is the largest origin of international visitors.

Tourism plays a vital role in Alaska's economy and is the state's third-largest industry, contributing 8% of Alaska's GDP in 2022. Tourists and tourism companies spent nearly $4 billion in Alaska in 2023 and supported 48,000 jobs. Most of these jobs are in hospitality, transportation, and outdoor recreation. One in ten jobs in Alaska is in the tourism industry.