Alaska kicks off $5m tourism marketing campaign

'Following a year of obstacles, Alaskan families, small businesses and tourism communities are eager to welcome visitors by cruise ship this summer,' Gov. Mike Dunleavy said.

TV, radio and digital

The Travel Alaska campaign, which is not cruise specific, includes targeted advertisements on national television programs, radio and digital platforms throughout the spring and summer to encourage Americans to visit Alaska as a COVID-19 safe destination.

On Thursday, Alaska's COVID alert level dropped from 'high' to 'intermediate,' with 9.95 cases per 100,000 people.

Alaska has been in the high alert category, with greater than 10 cases per 100,000, since Sept. 13, peaking at 91.3 cases per 100,000 on Dec. 6. Over the past month, the average daily case rate in has more than halved from 22.02 per 100,000 on April 19 to 9.95 per 1000,000 on May 19.

COVID-safe destination

'Alaska is a COVID-safe destination,' Dunleavy said. 'With us leading the nation in all the important health metrics that count, this campaign will aggressively market Alaska and Alaskans to the rest of the country, that our beautiful state and communities are open for business.'

The marketing campaign includes $4m of television, $500,000 of radio and $500,000 of digital advertisements for a total of 1,700 spots over six and a half weeks.

CARES Act funding

Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds were appropriated by the Legislature to the Dunleavy administration for COVID-19 response efforts, making this an immediate relief plan. The governor announced the tourism marketing and aid package in April.