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PERHAPS ITS TIME FOR CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
Although there are many varied opinions about tourism downtown this summer, there are hopeful signs that visitation is up a little and that those people making the journey to Fairbanks are loosening up there purse strings more than last year. The city bed tax for the time period of January through the end of May is up 10.4 percent, with the lion’s share of that increase happening in the month of May. There appears to be a few more folks walking the streets of our little river city (a purely anecdotal sentiment). And then there are business women, like the savvy Angelika, of Arctic Travelers Gift Shop, who say things are looking up.
Angelika said she set out to find something for everyone while shopping for her store last winter and spring, and that she is pleased by how the summer is going. She came back with a mix of products, with everything from Matryoshka dolls to Alaska gem stone necklaces, that are selling steadily to tourists and locals alike.
“Authentic products such as Native masks and Eskimo yo-yo’s are doing well with those looking for Alaskan-made merchandise. Our extensive, reasonably priced inventory of t-shirts and sweatshirts bring people back for more, and our mugs and figurines sell well to people on a budget looking for gifts or something special to take home.”
Angelika says store sales are up and she is optimistic that the worst has passed. I had the pleasure to stop into Arctic Travelers the other day and I must say the rich variety of Alaskan merchandise, the attractive displays and the excellent customer service certainly seem to be a recipe for success.
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