Vitalize June 2018

ALASKAN MUSIC + TOURISM

AKIMI is a member of the Alaska Travel Industry Association and a collaborator with local tourism bureaus, working to link tourism with the sound of Alaskan music and the extraordinary music experiences travelers can experience in our state.

Alaskan music is already an underrecognized economic driver within our tourism sector, and its impact could be multiplied by broad recognition, cooperation, and investment. Our regional music festivals and nightlife are an amazing added value to tourists’ visits, whether at the Days of ‘98 show in Skagway, the Creek Street Cabaret in Ketchikan, or the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. Our dozens of music festivals already generate tremendous in-state travel, enriching even very small communties like Chicken, Ninilchik, and Trapper Creek — and the experiences visitors have there are like no other.

A game plan for stepping into our music tourism potential:

  • Every tourist who visits Alaska should be listening to Alaskan music.

    • In the background: in retail, hospitality, and transportation sectors

    • In our media: in tourism advertising, in Alaskan-made films, and on public and commercial radio

    • In person: in public spaces, bars and restaurants, transportation hubs, and dedicated venues

  • Investing in the Alaska music ecosystem will draw independent travelers to new places.

    • “Passion Tourism” is on the rise globally, in which independent tourists follow unique experiences to exotic locations

    • Alaska’s music festivals and unique venues are primed for Passion Tourism, if supported and promoted well

    • Independent travelers bring the highest value to Alaskan communities

  • Create a strong local music industry to support a healthy music tourism economy.

    • To provide great experiences for travelers, invest in the music sector as a whole — including music education, music retail, and off-season “for us by us” activity.

AKIMI is committed to moving this work forward. There are many models to guide us, from Tennessee to Iceland, from Portland to Las Vegas. Public and private investment in developing Alaskan nightlife, venues, and festivals, along with the artists and technicians who make the magic happen there, will enrich Alaskan communities and show visitors a side of Alaska they’ll never forget.