Ketchikan Tourism Strategy

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough, in partnership with Confluence Sustainability and the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies, began the initial steps to develop a tourism destination management strategy.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough recognizes that the community is at a critical juncture as it experiences the effects of sustained growth in tourism. There is now a need to work directly with the community to define a shared vision for tourism growth and its management. The Ketchikan Borough’s future tourism Destination Management strategy aims to foster destination stewardship and improve the coordinated management of all the elements that make up the tourism economy. It will focus on balancing the expectations of visitors with the needs of local residents, businesses and the environment.

Thousands of community members were engaged throughout the entire process including the review of the final strategy.

The Ketchikan Tourism Strategy is complete and was adopted and authorized by the Ketchikan Borough Assembly and the Planning Commission in July, 2023.