ANCHORAGE (Alaska) — As cases of the coronavirus continue to multiply in China, and concerns about the disease have led travellers to cancel upcoming trips to other Asian countries, tourism officials in Alaska see an opportunity.

Officials with Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Visit Anchorage, the tourism marketing organisation for Alaska’s largest city, have begun lobbying airlines, travel agents and tour operators to increase airline service, reroute cruises and generally get the word out about the sights and attractions of the northernmost state.