The loss of Juneau’s visitor season impacted us in many ways. Despite the assistance of CARES Act funding, we should remember that the visitor sector experienced greater than 50% unemployment and lost over 50% in annual revenue. Many of our friends and neighbors lost the opportunity for much-needed summer income and many businesses shuttered their doors, some permanently.
However, we can take beginning steps toward reopening the visitor industry responsibly. Research shows that travelers are looking to organizations like Travel Juneau for information about local efforts protecting visitors and residents from COVID-19. To help meet that expectation, Travel Juneau has implemented the Juneau Cares program aligning our industry with reopening protocols and mitigation procedures to assure our community and in-bound visitors. We invite our partners and other local businesses to commit to creating, implementing, and communicating their COVID-conscious plans. To learn more about Juneau Cares and how businesses can participate, please visit our dedicated microsite, TravelJuneau.com/juneaucares.
We can’t take COVID-19 lightly and Travel Juneau is sensitive to the toll the virus continues to take on our families, friends, and co-workers. However, the virus is also taking a toll on our local economy, so we’re setting our sights on the 2021 season and beyond. For any restart, we must work together to stem infection rates. Travel Juneau thanks the City and Borough of Juneau and Gov. Mike Dunleavy in their call to Alaskans to take steps to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Liz Perry,
President and CEO of Travel Juneau