Economic Plan

2025Southeast Alaska

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

SWOT AnalysisTourism

Timeline: Where are we in process?

SWOT & Committee

Economic Analysis

Goals & Objectives

Action Plan Review

Draft Plan

You Are Here

Priority Objectives

Resiliency

April 2020

March 2021

1. Visitor Industry

2. Local Government

3. Health Care

4. State Government

5. Seafood

6. Federal Government

$75,000,000 $125,000,000 $175,000,000 $225,000,000 $275,000,000

2020 OutlookOriginal projection for 2020 (from 2019)

Tourism was to be top regional wage provider

Tourism SWOT Analysis

The Southeast Alaska Tourism SWOT analysis was conducted by the Southeast

Conference Tourism Committee on February 4th, 2020.

Natural Beauty

Unique Destination

Jobs

Growing

0.4 0.8

43%

45%

52%

76%

StrengthsCommunity relationships/

Infrastructure

Seasonality of industry

Seasonal housing

0.35 0.7

27%

38%

48%

67%

Cultural Tourism/

Community Collaboration and Planning

Independent/niche tourism development

Better Tourism Marketing

0 0.44

29%

31%

33%

43% COVID-19/Illness

Anti-tourism sentiment

State/Fed regulations (or lack of)

Increasing Costs0 0.45 0.9

30%

33%

35%

89%

Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

communication

Collaborate with Alaska Native Entities

Southeast Alaska SWOT Tourism

Natural Beauty

Unique Destination

Jobs

Growth potential

Culture and history

Friendly locals/communities

Wildlife

Recreational opportunities

Infrastructure0.4 0.8

14%

18%

19%

33%

38%

43%

45%

52%

76%

Tourism Strengths

Community relationships/communicationInfrastructure

Seasonality of industrySeasonal housing

High costsNot telling AK Native story well

Permitting processBalance between cruise/independent

Not enough shore excursionsWorkforce

Non local ownersMarketing

CrowdsPollutionWeather

0.35 0.7

5%7%8%10%10%11%13%

18%19%

22%25%27%

38%48%

67%

Tourism Weaknesses

Cultural Tourism/Collaborate with Alaska Native Entities

Community Collaboration and Planning

Independent/niche tourism development

Better Tourism Marketing

More shoreside excursions/products to buy

Winter toursim

Technical assistance to tourism businesses

Growing Sector

Eco-Tourism

Workforce housing development0 0.5

5%

14%

24%

24%

25%

26%

29%

31%

33%

43%

Tourism Opportunities

COVID-19/Illness

Anti-tourism sentiment

State/Fed regulations (or lack of)

Increasing Costs

Power of cruise industry

Cruise ship incident/accident

Over-crowding/ tourism

Jobs harder to fill

Local activity that reduces attractivness

Housing shortages

Greed

Cultural appropriation

Bad summer weather

Competition with non-Alaska destinations0 0.45 0.9

5%5%5%

10%10%

14%14%15%

19%24%

30%33%35%

89%

Tourism Threats

Total SE Businesses Responding = 272 Representing 5,440 current SE workers

The Southeast Alaska Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

(SWOT) analysis was developed by more than 200 Southeast Conference members, including business, municipal, and tribal

leaders from across the region in February 2020.

Beauty and Recreation Opportunities

Tourism Sector

Seafood Industry

Rich Alaska Native Culture and Heritage

People and Southeast Alaskan Spirit

Great place to raise kids/families0.25 0.5

34%

36%

37%

38%

41%

50%

StrengthsFerry transportation decline

Cost of living and doing business

Transportation Costs

Housing: Not enough/Too Expensive

Aging or lack of infrastructure

Dependence on State oil economy0.3 0.6

22%

26%

32%

34%

42%

59%

Strengthen ferry connectivity

Mariculture development

Seafood products development

Cultural tourism development

Renewable energy

Improve infrastructure0 0.6

22%

23%

28%

31%

43%

50%Reduction/loss of Ferry Service

Fisheries decline

Poor leadership/decision making

Cost of living

Climate Change/Global Warming

Capitol move/capital creep0 0.3 0.6

28%

29%

33%

34%

34%

54%

Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Summary of Southeast Alaska SWOT: Top responses

Beauty and Recreation Opportunities

Tourism Sector

Seafood Industry

Rich Alaska Native Culture and Heritage

People and Southeast Alaskan Spirit

Great place to raise kids/families

Wildlife

Clean Water

Access to Natural Resources

Mining0.25 0.5

20%

22%

28%

30%

34%

36%

37%

38%

41%

50%

Southeast Strengths

Ferry transportation decline

Cost of living and doing business

Transportation Costs

Housing: Not enough/Too Expensive

Aging or lack of infrastructure

Dependence on State oil economy

Energy Costs

Lack of road connectivity

Lack of jobs that can support household

Seasonal jobs instead of year-round

Lack of childcare0.3 0.6

15%

17%

18%

20%

20%

22%

26%

32%

34%

42%

59%

Southeast Weaknesses

Ferry connectivity strengthened

Mariculture development

Seafood products development

Cultural tourism development

Renewable energy

Improve infrastructure

Housing development

Maritime industry growth

Diversify the Economy

Grow food & harvest plants

Mining industry0 0.6

18%

20%

21%

21%

21%

22%

23%

28%

31%

43%

50%

Southeast Opportunities

Loss/Further Reduction of Ferry Service

Fisheries decline

Poor leadership/decision making

Cost of living

Climate Change/Global Warming

Capitol move/capital creep

State jobs/budget cuts

Declining/aging population/loss of youth

Radical outside groups/lawsuits

Housing related0 0.3 0.6

15%

18%

18%

23%

28%

29%

33%

34%

34%

54%

Southeast Threats

Economic PlanTourismSoutheast Alaska

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE

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