Last year, tourists spent more than 12 million nights in hotels and other accommodations in the state, officials said.
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine business owners are looking forward to the summer months, hoping for a successful tourist season.
The 2024 Tourism Governors’ Conference held Thursday served as a forum to reflect on the successes of the 2023 tourism season and discuss future strategies to strengthen Maine’s tourism industry.
“2023 was a really great year for Maine, with $16 billion in economic impact,” said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Tourism Authority.
Mr. Lyons highlighted the significant contribution of visitors, noting that visitors have spent more than 12 million nights in hotels and other accommodations in the state.
“Maine’s biggest earner is hotels. There are so many hotels and lodging sales are high,” he said.
Local restaurant owners, such as Daniel Talmatch of Portland’s The North Point, were enthusiastic about the upcoming tourist rush.
Talmatch said increased foot traffic means more opportunities for businesses like his. “The more events, the more concerts, the more people in town, the better for all of us.”
He suggested that the bad weather that negatively affected some tourism businesses last summer actually benefited his establishment.
“The more it rains, the less people are going to be outside. We’ve lost outdoor seating, so every time we have less outdoor seating, people come to see us. It was great,” he explained.
Maine’s tourism industry is banking on positive trends as tourists stay longer and spend more money each year.
“Every year we have been successful in acquiring. [visitors] Stay longer and spend more money,” Lyons concluded.
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