Acadia visits up

Final 2007 numbers released on Monday by Acadia National Park indicate that visitation was up for a second straight year.

According to Acadia officials, an estimated 2.2 million visitors came to Acadia last year, a 5.7 percent increase from 2006. That represents 120,000 more visitors, with the largest increases coming in June, August and September; estimated visitation actually declined in July, however. Park officials noted that visits to Acadia fell from 1995-2005, but that this year’s gain brought numbers back up to 2004 levels.

- BarHarborTimes

Tourism numbers

 The State Planning Office has stopped counting in-state tourism dollars.

In 2004, tourism generated $13.6 billion in sales, 176,600 jobs and $531 million in state and local taxes, according to previous State Planning Office estimates. Such numbers are frequently held up to underscore the importance of tourism to the state’s economy.

Now, the Planning Office says those figures were inflated, in part by including spending by Maine residents who took day trips around the state. The office has lowered the estimates to $8.9 billion in sales, 132,000 jobs and $376 million in taxes.

- PressHerald

Mount Desert Island highly rated

National Geographic Traveler magazine gives Mount Desert a rating of 69 of 100 for sustainability. Here are a couple comments by the judges:

“A benchmark for sustainability. The fact that it is home to Acadia National Park has contributed to establishment of a unique, committed alliance of the National Park Service, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, and the local residents. It’s a win-win scenario for both the locals and the visitors.”

“I was stunned as to how much the island had been developed since I was there as a child. My recent trip was a bit disappointing, as the harbor had big cruise boats in it and the town was overrun with trinket shops. Not much of the local Maine character seemed to be left.”

- via Bar Harbor Times

More Cruise ships to Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor expects to see more cruise ships next year. Bar Harbor Times:

The number of cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor next year appears likely to exceed 100 for the first time ever.

This year’s total was 91. Sixty-six of those visits were by large ships, those that drop anchor in the bay and require tenders to bring passengers to shore. Already, the large ships are scheduled for 79 visits next year.