We’re all boosters for Alaska

Sometimes we take for granted the natural beauty that surrounds us daily and the many things our area has to offer visitors. Perhaps we do so because we think it’s the “norm” in our day-to-day lives. But talk to a potential visitor — or better yet, someone who has already visited Alaska — and you’ll quickly see why as residents we should be proud of where we live.

Last weekend, I was in the state of Alaska’s booth at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show, and watching people’s eyes light up when they talked about Alaska made me smile and appreciate even more where I live. People were quick to tell their stories of their previous Alaska vacations, while some recounted the number of times they had visited as if to try to “one up” the next person walking up to the booth. They were quick to talk about their fun time in Talkeetna, their visit to the Musk Ox Farm, the time they walked on Matanuska Glacier and when they visited the Alaska State Fair.

I got a sense that they told their Alaska stories with more passion than they probably would if they were talking about some other destination they had visited. They wore the fact they visited Alaska as a badge of honor. Those who haven’t visited before used the term “bucket list” too many times to count. Past and future visitors had the same attitude — Alaska is the trip of a lifetime.

The tourism industry works hard to make sure people want to visit, and when they do that they have an exciting and memorable experience. For every, “I’ll never forget the salmon I caught in Alaska” comment, there is a local guide up at 3 a.m. all summer making sure the boat is ready. For every, “The lodge was the most relaxing place I’ve ever stayed” comment we hear, there is a local innkeeper working tirelessly to make sure every detail is covered prior to their guests’ arrival, and then doing it again the next day when they leave. They are the unsung heroes of the tourism industry, and even though they may not feel like ambassadors for Alaska, they are vitally important to the visitor experience. By providing a great experience, they not only bring revenue to their own businesses, but also to businesses around the Mat-Su Valley.

This year, be an ambassador for the Valley and for Alaska as a whole. Tell your Lower 48 friends they are missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime by not visiting — and it’s never been cheaper to visit Alaska, thanks to air fare wars across many carriers. Point out that they’ll have the opportunity to flightsee around Denali, walk on a glacier, hike amazing trails or see a 100-pound cabbage at the Alaska State Fair. You’ll not only showcase the area you live in, you’ll also be helping the local tourism economy — money that churns in our community from business to business.

I have to admit, however, I wasn’t a true Alaska ambassador with one person who stopped by the Alaska booth last week, but he made it just too easy for me.

“So what’s the currency exchange rate up there with the U.S. dollar?” he asked.

“It’s doing pretty good, actually. It’s currently at a 1-to-1 ratio,” I replied with a straight face.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager for the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau.