Petersburg Pilot -

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An industry trade group predicts the number of Alaska cruise ship passengers will break records in 2020 for the fifth consecutive year.

CoastAlaska reports the outlook comes from Cruise Lines International Association Alaska.

The projections were announced Wednesday at the annual meeting of Southeast Conference, taking place in Sitka.

According to the association’s data, at least 1.44 million cruise ship passengers are expected in Alaska next year. That’s a 6 % increase.

Cruise ship traffic increased by about 200,000 passengers between 2018 and 2019.

Next year, 1...