Juneau, Alaska to vote on cruise regulations

Juneau, Alaska, is set to join the fray. This week, the state capital will vote on whether to regulate cruise ships that visit.

Juneau is one of the most popular cities in the United States for cruises.

The Alaskan city is the latest in a string of cities around the world to protest a phenomenon known as overtourism.

The vote on limiting the number of cruise ships appears to be split. Some residents whose businesses depend on tourism welcome visitors; others are less so. The proposed ordinance includes a ban on ships carrying 250 or more passengers from disembarking in Juneau on Saturdays, which would disqualify the mega-ships that often visit the area.

Juneau has a population of only about 32,000.

It is the only state capital in the United States that does not have a major road connecting it to the rest of the state, hence the unusually large number of visitors by plane and cruise ship. It is popular for its proximity to glaciers and the possibility of seeing whales and Kodiak bears.

There is also a popular urban description of the gold rush that took place over 150 years ago.

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