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The two big influences on this summer's tourist season were crummy weather and a crummy economy. But most tour-related businesses said they plowed through well enough.

"We've had wet summers before. We've had economic downturns before. Overall, I think Alaska continues to be a great draw," said Lorene Palmer, president and CEO of the Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This year, Alaska passed the 1 million cruise ship passenger mark, according to the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Most ships stop in Juneau. That's roughly flat from last year. Cruise visitors have more than quadrupled since 1990.

The last cruise ship of the summer left town Saturday, ending the season.

In initial estimates, this year's cruise visitors spent about $186 million, Palmer said. Not all the money stays in Juneau - a study of how much stays is due out later this year - but a lot of it does, she maintained.

Tourism businesses gave mixed reports on the cold, rainy summer.

"What's gold for one business is lead for another," Palmer said.

Allan Engstrom, at the Decker Gallery, echoed his fellow South Franklin Street operators: "Too nice a weather, and everyone goes on tours. Too cold, and they don't even get off the boat," he said.

"That fine mist we get - that's perfect," said Hannah Mees, at Lambros Goldsmith on South Franklin, a Virginia-based company that also owns the Glacier Gem store two doors down. "People are still spending."

Not so at the Goldbelt-owned Mount Roberts Tramway, where sunny days can be three or four times better than rainy ones, according to Goldbelt Vice President Bob Martin. The tram's numbers were slightly down, he said.

"We're looking forward to a better one next year," Martin said. "We don't expect three rainy summers in a row."

In contrast, Goldbelt's hotel had to turn people away again this summer.

The national economy may be in dire shape, but that didn't affect everyone.

Gilbert Gather, owner of Alaska Best Smoked Salmon, a tent across from downtown Marine Park, said this year was good but last year was better. People bargained and asked for discounts more often this year.

"You can sense it when they're a little tight," he said.

"We don't have a lot left in the store," said Henry Wilson, general manager of the Taku Harley-Davidson. "People don't have as much disposable income, but it doesn't stop them."

"They did not spend money," said Rene Santana, store manager at Royal Jewels of Alaska on South Franklin Street, noting sales were down. "They, of course, are not to blame because of what's going on in the economy. But they just came because they had booked tickets."

He theorized revenue might improve if Juneau took a little more care with its appearance. "Fresh paint is not going to take away from a huge budget," he said.

Some tour operators also said the weather didn't hold their businesses back, partly because many of their tours are booked well before the forecast, said Jeremy Gieser of Gastineau Guiding.

After all, that's what rain gear is for, said John McConnochie, owner of Cycle Alaska, who reported business this summer was similarly weatherproof.

Next year, Palmer suspects Alaska might benefit from its time in the national political spotlight by drawing more tourists.

"Alaska curiosity," she called it. "We might have piqued their interest even more."

Some businesses are already taking advantage of Alaska's newfound newsworthiness. On South Franklin Street, Once In A Blue Moose had shirts saying, "Our Mama Beats Your Obama."

• Contact reporter Kate Golden at 523-2276 or e-mail kate.golden@juneauempire.com.