ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's tourism industry is taking a hit because of the downturn in the US economy, as well as the slowdown in the economy globally.

That has the state's major cruise ship operators slashing prices in hopes of filling ships this summer. Cruise ships bring roughly 1 million visitors to Alaska each year. To get them here this summer, cruise ship lines are discounting tickets by as much as 40 percent.

Last year, the cheapest Alaska cruise offered by the major lines was $799 plus fees, according to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association. This winter, Princess Cruises is offering summer cruises for as low as $475.

State economists have predicted the global recession will hit the state's tourism industry hardest with the loss of 300 leisure and hospitality jobs in the Anchorage area alone. That's a bigger decline than any other in