Alaska’s Kaktovik brings back polar bear tours after pandemic pause

Visitors return, but every bear encounter faces stricter rules

Near the Arctic Circle, Alaska’s Kaktovik is moving to restart its polar bear tourism after a pandemic shutdown and worries about visitor impact. The village once welcomed thousands of tourists each year, and now leaders are trying to revive the local economy while safeguarding polar bears and preserving Inupiat culture—turning the return into a more controlled experience.