Alaska winter tourism gains popularity

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

Winter tourism is growing in Alaska, a state known as a popular summer destination.

Visitor volume grew 33 percent for the fall and winter season over the past decade, the Anchorage Daily News reported .

Winter business also has been up for the Alaska Railroad for the past few years, including a rise in visitors from Asia coming to see Alaska’s night sky. Ridership on winter passenger trains grew 33 percent between the winter of 2015-2016 and the following year, according to railroad spokeswoman Meghan Clemons.

The railroad has added more train service to accommodate the larger numbers.

The railroad’s vice president of marketing, Dale Wade, said visitors from Asia are one factor for the upswing. Seeing the aurora borealis is a popular goal for many of them.

“Winter is suddenly very popular, and it’s growing steadily for the last three years,” said Wade. There wasn’t a “significant market for it” before that, he said.

Associated Press