The outlook for Alaska's tourism industry is slightly better this year than in 2002, but there remains an air of uncertainty, according to industry surveys presented at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau members' meeting Friday.

Half of Alaska's tourism businesses surveyed said they served fewer visitors last year than in 2001, said Susan Bell, a partner at the McDowell Group Inc., a Juneau-based research firm that conducted the surveys.

The lackluster year was characterized by discounting as cruise ships tried to fill their vessels and the count of independent travelers fell, Bell said.

Travelers also have been booking their trips with much shorter lead times, due in large part to increased use of the Internet, she said.

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