As Canadian border crossings into the state continue to fall, air travel and park visits are increasing.
MAINE, USA — Tourism remains a critical part of Maine’s economy, but this year’s trends show a mixed picture for the industry.
“It has been a really strange year,” Tony Cameron, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association, said.
Cameron said the biggest shifts this summer include the continued drop in Canadian tourists. New data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows border crossings into Maine fell by 28% in July, compared to the same time last year down to 277,000 visitors. This marks the sixth consecutive month of decline in Canadian travel to the state.
“There’s no question that’s had an impact,” Cameron said.
Bright spots in Maine tourism
Despite the downturn in Canadian visits, other parts of the tourism sector are seeing increases.
At the Portland International Jetport, officials say air travel is setting records. Passenger traffic is up 9% over last year’s all-time high.
“This summer we’ve really seen an all-time high in traffic,” Zachary Sundquist, assistant director of the Jetport, said. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a focus on leisure travel, and Portland has really benefited from that.”
One of those visitors flying to Maine is Ted Allen, who traveled from Ohio with his family to vacation on Squirrel Island.
“It’s just a great place,” Allen said. “We of course go to a lot of restaurants.”
Acadia National Park data shows a surge in visitors this summer. More than 797,000 people visited the park in July alone, marking its busiest month in 35 years.
The Maine Turnpike is also seeing more travelers. Toll transactions are up by more than 914,000 compared to last summer, according to transportation officials. This July, transactions totaled 9,992,425. It’s a 2.14% increase from 9,783,172 in July 2024.
“There isn’t one particular reason that will make or break tourism or our season,” Cameron said. “There’s a number of different factors that go into it.”
What’s next for Maine tourism?
Looking ahead to fall, Cameron says good weather will play a big role in extending the tourism season. It would especially help bring more visitors to areas such as Bar Harbor, where new cap is limiting cruise ships.
According to CruiseMaine, the town is scheduled to have about 50 ships dock this year. That’s down from 97 ships in 2024.
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