ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Keeping in line with the aggressive growth plans that joint venture Na-Dena` has for sustainable tourism in Alaska, Alaska Independent Coach Tours recently made an additional $3.5 million investment to bring six new MCI coaches into its fleet.
All six coaches are already in service through the company’s Seattle-based Pacific Alaska Tours fleet and will be making their way to their home base in Anchorage from the Lower 48 prior to the 2023 visitor season.
“When Na-Dena` acquired the majority stake of Alaska Independent Coach Tours, we knew it was with a vision for growth and commitment to sharing Alaska and its cultures responsibly. This most recent investment shows that we are not wasting any time making good on those promises,” said Dennis McDonnell, president of Alaska Independent Coach Tours.
These clean-diesel J4500 motorcoaches, which comply with low-emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2021, offer lower emissions than any current hybrid car on a per passenger basis. The 2023 motorcoaches also offer the latest in safety technology, including automatic tire pressure monitoring and electronic stability control sensors that trigger automatic stopping when needed.
Alaska Coach Tours will focus on continuing to acquire the latest in low-emission technology and developing tour programs that will operate in the most efficient way to reduce their carbon footprint. Eventually, the goal is to be operating as many as 50 buses in Southcentral and the Interior.
Na-Dena`’s long-term plans are to not only offer transportation and guest services but also tour development and lodging. And they are striving to do this while creating meaningful connections for visitors with Alaska Native culture, preserving the state for future generations of residents and visitors, and providing well-paying jobs for Alaskans.
Na-Dena’ owns 80% of Alaska Independent Coach Tours and leans on the strength of the Alaska Independent Coach Tours management team to continue its successful day-to-day motorcoach tour operations.
About Alaska Independent Coach Tours LLC
Alaska Independent Coach Tours LLC is an Alaskan-owned company with headquarters in Juneau, Alaska. The company operates over 100 motorcoaches from five different locations including Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, and Sitka, Alaska, and in Seattle, WA, as Pacific Alaska Tours. The combined companies offer tours and transportation to major cruise lines visiting Alaska during the summer months. Alaska Coach Tours has 30 full-time employees adding an additional 120 team members during the peak summer months. For more information, visit www.alaskacoachtours.com.
About Na-Dena` LLC
Na-Dena` LLC is a 50-50 joint venture between Alaska Native corporations Huna Totem Corporation and Doyon, Limited, focused on expanding sustainable tourism in Alaska. Formed in February 2022, Na-Dena` takes a holistic approach to statewide tourism, connecting historic traditions with the modern-day traveler, crafting new turnkey excursion packages and building value for Huna Totem’s and Doyon’s shareholders by creating jobs in a sustainable industry for future generations. Na-Dena` is exploring further opportunities for growth in transportation, lodging and tour development statewide over the next few years. Doyon, Limited is based in Fairbanks and Huna Totem Corporation is headquartered in Juneau. The historic connections and well-established trade routes between Doyon’s Athabascan people in the Interior and Huna Totem’s Tlingit people in Southeast Alaska spans thousands of years.