Tourism Development and Marketing Training and Business Assistance The State of Alaska provides training programs and business assistance to communities, businesses, agencies, and residents to help disperse economic benefits of tourism throughout the state, and retain benefits in the communities where visitation occurs. Right: Alaska Tour Guide Training Program Photo Credit: Flip and Linda Nicklin Business Assistance Resources for Business Plans Alaska Community Database Establishing a Business in Alaska (2009) Small Business Assistance Center, Alaska Division of Economic Development Writing Your Small Business Plan (2008), University of Alaska Center for Economic Development Licenses and Permits State of Alaska Business License All businesses operating in the State of Alaska must obtain a business license from the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing. Guides and Outfitters Big Game Commercial Services Permit. If you want to provide guide, outfitting or transportation services for big game, the State of Alaska requires you to obtain a professional license from the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing. Regulated professions include master guide-outfitter, registered guide-outfitter, assistant guide, class-A assistant guide and transporter. Sport Fishing Guides & Charter Requirements. Licensing information for both sport fish guiding businesses and individual sport fishing guides is available from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game. Commercial Services. All commercial recreation businesses that use state uplands, shorelands, tidelands, and fresh water bodies must register with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). For additional information, a factsheet is available or you can register online. Alaska State Parks. Non-Competitive Park Use Permits for Commercial Activities are issued through the Donald E. Gilman Center in Soldotna, Alaska with the exception of Wood-Tikchik and Chugach State Parks. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/permits/ 6-Pack License (US Coast Guard) or Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV). Do you want to offer charter fishing, whale watching, SCUBA diving, and tour cruises for six passengers or less? The US Coast Guard requires you to obtain a 6-Pack license for your un-inspected passenger vessel. This license is limited to near coastal waters only, not more than 100 miles offshore, and is not valid for international voyages. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Developing provides a list of licensing authorities. Accommodations Overnight Accommodations. Thinking of opening a hotel, motel, RV park, campground, or other overnight accommodation? The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Food Safety & Sanitation Program has resources to get you started. State of Alaska Bed and Breakfast requirements. The Alaska Tourism Development Office provides contacts for bed and breakfast businesses in one convenient resource. Bed and Breakfast Hot Tubs. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Food Safety, and Sanitation Program provides information on State of Alaska requirements for Hot Tubs in Alaska’s Bed and Breakfast Establishments. Temporary Camps. Operating a food service at a camp serving between 13 and 24 individuals each day? The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Food Safety & Sanitation Program has resources to get you started. Food Services Thinking of opening a food establishment? The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Food Safety and Sanitation Program has resources to get you started. Sector-Specific Resources DVD: Navigating Tourism Business Opportunities with the Alaska Cruise Industry (2008) (Contact Contact Us) DVD: Operating a Bed & Breakfast in Alaska (2008). Play Full Video in .wmv format.) Clicking on the links below will launch a new web page in a new browser window for documents prepared by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development Starting a Bed and Breakfast (2008) Starting an Ecotourism Business (2008) Starting a Rural Alaska Lodge (2008) Starting a Small Restaurant (2008) Starting a Small Rental Business (2008) Clicking on the links below will launch a new web page in a new browser window for documents prepared by the University of Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service Cultural Tourism for Rural Alaska (2011), Robert F. Gorman Birding for Western Alaska (Revised 2013), Robert F. Gorman Visitor Industry Taxes and Fees Commercial Passenger Vessel Excise Tax Large Passenger Vessel Gambling Tax Vehicle Rental Tax Summary of Municipal Sales Taxes, Special Taxes (includes lodging, car rental, tourism) and Revenues (Alaska Taxable, 2014, pp. 19-23) Marketing Assistance The State of Alaska’s tourism marketing programs offer fresh ideas to attract visitors to your place of business and are open to all tourism-related Alaska businesses. We encourage you to choose among the international, domestic consumer, domestic trade, and media programs that will work best for your company. Statewide Trade Associations Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailer’s Association www.alaskacharr.com Alaska Campground Owner’s Association www.alaskacampgrounds.net Alaska Charter Association www.alaskacharter.org Alaska Travel Industry Association www.alaskatia.org Alaska Hunter’s Association www.alaskaprohunter.org Alaska Sportfishing Association alaskasportfishingassociation.info Alaska Wilderness, Recreation, and Tourism Association www.visitwildalaska.com Bed & Breakfast Association of Alaska www.alaskabba.com Regional Tourism Marketing Organizations Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council www.kenaipeninsula.org Mat-su Convention & Visitors Bureau www.alaskavisit.com Southwest Alaska www.southwestalaska.com Southeast Alaska Tourism Council www.alaskainfo.org Local Convention and Visitors Bureaus/Chambers of Commerce Interior and Far North Delta Junction Visitor Center http://www.deltachamber.org Denali Chamber of Commerce http:// www.denalichamber.com Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau www.explorefairbanks.com Nome Alaska Visitor’s Center www.visitnomealaska.com Southcentral Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau www.anchorage.net Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce www.coppervalleychamber.com Cordova Chamber of Commerce http://cordovachamber.com Homer Chamber of Commerce www.homeralaska.org/visit-homer Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center www.visitkenai.com Palmer Chamber of Commerce www.palmerchamber.org Seldovia Chamber of Commerce www.seldoviachamber.org Seward Chamber of Commerce, Conference & Visitors Bureau www.sewardchamber.org Soldotna Chamber of Commerce http://visitsoldotna.com Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce www.talkeetnachamber.org Valdez Convention & Visitors Bureau www.valdezalaska.org Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau www.visitwasilla.org Greater Whittier Chamber of Commerce www.whittieralaskachamber.org Willow Chamber of Commerce www.willowchamber.org Southeast Haines Convention & Visitors Bureau www.haines.ak.us Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau www.traveljuneau.com Ketchikan Visitors Bureau www.visit-ketchikan.com Metlakatla Indian Community www.metlakatla.com Petersburg Alaska Chamber of Commerce www.petersburg.org Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce www.princeofwalescoc.org Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau www.sitka.org Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau http://skagway.com Wrangell Convention & Visitor Bureau www.wrangellalaska.org Western Bethel Chamber of Commerce www.bethelakchamber.org/visit.php Igiugig Village www.igiugig.com Kodiak Chamber of Commerce www.kodiak.org Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor Convention & Visitors Bureau www.unalaska.info Training AlaskaHost Customer Service Training AlaskaHost is a statewide customer service training program designed for employees of the hospitality and visitor services industry. CulturalHost The Alaska Native CulturalHost Seminar is a comprehensive training program designed with assistance from the Cook Inlet Tribal Council to provide a greater understanding and appreciation of Alaska Native culture for workers within Alaska’s hospitality and tourism industry. Alaska Tour Guide Training Knowledgeable local tour guides are a great way to introduce visitors to Alaska and can add authenticity and incredible value to visitors’ experiences. The Alaska Tour Guide Training program is a training course for tour guides to increase the number of local guides working in the visitor industry, especially in rural areas of the state. Additional Training Resources The American Red Cross of Alaska offers first aid and CPR training. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development has a list of resources for charter boat operators (6-pack licenses). The Alaska Hotel, Cabaret, Restaurant and Retailers Association offers Training for Alcohol Professionals (TAP) and Food Safety (ServSafe) classes. Alaska's Institute of Technology offers training programs and courses through the the Alaska Culinary Academy and the Alaska Maritime Training Center. The Alaska Small Business Development Center offers business development workshops. The Alaska Travel Industry Association offers an E-Learning Center for members. Southeast Alaska Independent Living offers training to help businesses accommodate visitors who experience a disability. Archive Publications JilKaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center, Tourism Mangement Plan and Marketing Recommendations (2009) SeaTrails Marketing and Business Plan (2008) Alaska Rainforest Islands Regional Branding and Marketing Plan (2006) Copper River Country Regional Branding and Marketing Plan (2006) Alaska Community Tourism Handbook (2001) Rural Alaska Tourism Infrastructure Needs Assessment (1997) (Full Document) Aleutian and Pribilof Islands (1997) Bristol Bay and Alaska Peninsula (1997) Copper Valley (1997) Kenai Peninsula Borough (1997) Kodiak Island Borough (1997) Lower Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta (1997) Matanuska Susitna Borough (1997) North Slope Borough (1997) Northwest Arctic Borough (1997) Prince William Sound (1997) Southeast (1997) Developing Alaska Rural Tourism (2005-2010) The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Division of Economic Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration provided technical assistance, training, and business mentorship to rural Alaska communities, and rural tourism businesses through the Developing Alaska Rural Tourism (DART) project. Tourism Mentorship Assistance Program (2006-2010) Grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development provided resources to conduct the Tourism Mentorship Assistance Program (TMAP) that partnered successful business owners in Alaska's visitor industry with potential business owners to further development of the visitor industry in rural Alaska. Contact Us Caryl McConkie Development Specialist 907-465-5478 caryl.mcconkie@alaska.gov