Alaska Native Village Seeks to Revive Polar Bear Tourism Amid Economic Hopes
The small Alaska Native village of Kaktovik is working to revive its polar bear tourism industry, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and federal restrictions on boat tours. Located in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Kaktovik has been a popular destination for tourists seeking to view polar bears, especially during the late summer when the bears gather to feed on whale carcasses. The tourism industry, which once attracted over 1,000 visitors annually, was halted due to concerns about the impact on the bears and the local community. Kaktovik leaders are now negotiating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish guidelines that would allow tourism to resume in a way that benefits the local economy while protecting the bears and the community's way of life. 
