This summer’s cruise ship traffic count reached nearly 80,000 visitors, roughly double the average since 2010, and next year’s forecast is expected to surpass this year’s traffic. Many of those ships, however, are scheduled for evening dockings when many local businesses were closed this summer.
The tourist season opened with “cautious optimism” this year after two seasons of pandemic-related precautions that restricted business and tourism operations in Haines, said Steven Auch, Haines tourism director. With…