Visitor numbers up for first time in 4 years

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A new report estimates that 1.8 million out-of-state visitors came to Alaska between May 2011 and April 2012.

The department of commerce, in a news release, says this is an increase of 3 percent over the previous year and the first increase in four years.

The report, commissioned by the department, shows an estimated 1.6 million out-of-state visitors came to Alaska between May and September 2011, including 883,000 cruise ship passengers. While that figure is better than the prior summer, the report says it is 5 percent below 2006 levels and 9 percent below the 2007 historical peak of 1.71 million visitors.

Over the full year, visitors spent an estimated $1.8 billion, not including cruise packages.