Alaska is a bucket list destination for many tourists who feel the “call of the wild.” From spotting wildlife to watching the northern lights dance across the night sky, exploring Alaska is a once-in-a-life-time experience most people can only dream of. Cruise tourism helps to make this dream possible. However, cruise tourism contributes to what is known as “overtourism,” which happens when too many people visit the same place at the same time, negatively impacting their own travel experiences, local communities, and the physical environment.

Communities in Southeast Alaska rely on the economic benefits of cruise tourism, but many residents wonder whether these benefits outweigh the costs of overtourism. Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, has memoranda of agreement with popular cruise lines, limiting the number of ships and passengers allowed to visit the city within a given day. Yet, residents push for further restrictions. Residents of other Southeast Alaska cities seek similar regulations but have been repeatedly denied due to constitutional concerns, like potential challenges under the Dormant Commerce Clause. With the construction of a new cruise port looming over Juneau, there is no sign that the cruise tourism industry will slow down any time soon.

This Note argues that Southeast Alaska’s current cruise restrictions—or lack thereof—are inadequate to address the negative effects of overtourism. State legislators must step in, balancing the state’s economic need with the need to protect local communities and Alaska’s fragile environment. Specifically, this Note argues that state legislators should enact a law limiting the size of cruise ships permitted to dock in Southeast Alaska.