The Maine Tourism Authority reports that 25% of the more than 10 million people who visited Maine last summer were first-time visitors.
Maine, USA. Memorial Day weekend usually marks the beginning of the influx of tourists to Pine Tree State. This year, the Maine Tourism Authority is expecting another strong year for travelers looking to spend their free time this summer here in Maine.
Hope Eye, an employee at The Rock and Art Shop in Bangor, said the store has hired more workers to keep up with the influx of shoppers.
“We are looking forward to one of the busiest years we have ever seen since the start of the pandemic,” Ai said.
She added that arriving customers are not just passing through the city on their way to another destination.
“Since the 90s you hear people passing through Bangor saying ‘Oh we’re here for the night…’ ‘Oh we’re here for two nights’ but now people come in and say ‘Oh we’re here’. . here to do so-and-so in Bangor, as if they have things they want to do here,” Ai said.
Steve Lyons is director of the Maine Tourism Authority.
“All the reports so far are showing that properties are filling up with pre-bookings, campsites are filling up very quickly, and in general we are seeing a lot of interest coming to Maine this year,” Lyons said.
Lyons added that despite skyrocketing gas prices that continue to rise, the FDA has seen a lot of out-of-state interest in Maine.
“I think a lot of people are thinking about traveling closer to home, and that’s actually an advantage for Maine because we’re in close proximity to such a huge population here in the northeastern United States,” Lyons said. .
The Maine Tourism Authority reports that trips to Maine increased by about 2.5% last summer compared to the summer of 2019. More than 10 million people have also visited the state, of which 25% are visiting Maine for the first time.
“There’s a lot to do here and it’s not too crowded, so I think people are really looking for a place where they can come and really enjoy the local experience,” Lyons said.
A “local experience” for some is outdoor recreation, while for others it’s shopping in local stores.
“Travel season is our second best season after Christmas,” said Cadence Doe, an associate at Maine Jewelry and Art in downtown Bangor.
Doe said the store attracts a lot of people who are looking for…
