Alaska is by far the biggest state in the United States. Alaska's vast, wild country draws many people here all year round. People can fish for record size salmon and halibut and hunt the world's largest bears on Kodiak Island. Mount McKinley, the largest mountain in North America, is also located here, which is a welcome challenge compared to the mountains located in the "lower 48".

Tourism is very important to Alaska's economy. Tourism is the state's second largest employer. It employs over 20,300 people. In-state visitor spending had reached $949 billion in 1998. Tourism is the state's second largest gross provider exceeded only by oil.

The continental United States provides 78% of all Alaska's visitors, Canadians provides 10% and 7% comes from overseas, mostly from Japan. About half of these people plan their own itinerary and half of them rely on tour or cruise packages. There are many cruise boat charters and sports fishing tours in Prince William Sound.