Maine businesses expect strong finish to summer tourism season
The sunny long weekend of Labor Day has been beneficial for businesses that rely on tourism to compensate for a sluggish and rainy beginning.
Visitors occupying the vicinity of Johnny Shucks in Old Orchard Beach were seen on Saturday. Krysta Norris, a member of the management team at the dining establishment, expressed that the proceedings have been satisfactory despite the persistent precipitation throughout the summer season. Brianna Soukup, a photographer in the employ of the organization, captured the scene.
OLD ORCHARD COAST - The extended weekend of Labor Day blessed local establishments in Maine that rely on tourism revenue with perfect weather conditions of clear skies and pleasant temperatures, rejuvenating their businesses.
Helene Castonguay and her sister Josie were among the numerous individuals who were delighting in the pleasant late-summer weather. They were filled with excitement as they visited the shoreline on Saturday amid what is reported as Portland's seventh rainiest summer on record by Sarah Thunberg, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
Even in Castonguay's place of origin, Sherbrooke, Quebec, "during this summer, there was incessant rainfall – a considerable amount of precipitation," Castonguay expressed.
It has been a rollercoaster season for numerous local entrepreneurs.
On a Saturday, an individual staying at a motel gazes out from their balcony, taking in the view of the ocean in Old Orchard Beach. Brianna Soukup, the staff photographer, captures this moment.
Jody Piazza manages the reception area at the Aquarius Motel, which boasts a pleasant terrace with a scenic view of the waves in Old Orchard Beach. Piazza mentioned that this summer, the motel didn't see quite as much traffic as the previous year, although it was still sufficiently occupied. A sign displaying "no vacancy" effectively communicated to the public that the motel was fully booked.
"June was quite sluggish. There were merely three or four days throughout June when precipitation didn't occur," Piazza mentioned. However, as the summer progressed and the frequency of rainy days diminished, "July considerably improved. August remained consistent." The lodging establishment is fully reserved for the upcoming weekend, and reservations for the following summer are already being made, Piazza stated.
At the seaside, Jodi Flaherty, from Raynham, Massachusetts, observed her 11-year-old daughter, Kyla, and 12-year-old daughter, Francesca, frolic in the sandy shore on Saturday. Flaherty mentioned that she had made plans for the final week of August, but upon noticing the prediction of rainfall, she decided to change her travel arrangements to this weekend instead.
She was extremely happy about the sunny weather. They had a great time at the amusement park and also did some shopping on Friday. On Saturday, they dedicated the whole day to enjoying the beach. Flaherty expressed their admiration, saying, "We absolutely adore this place. It's so stunning."
Francesca Camozzi, aged 12, and Kyla Flaherty, aged 11, are busy excavating a pit in the sandy shores of Old Orchard Beach this Saturday.
Throughout the entire state, the tourism industry didn't experience exceptional success this season. However, according to Becky Jacobson, the temporary executive director of HospitalityMaine, which advocates for hotels and restaurants, it wasn't a terrible summer either.
"It feels more similar to the summer of 2019 rather than the previous summer," Jacobson expressed. "The summer of 2022 surpassed all expectations due to the overwhelming desire to make up for lost time during the pandemic. Individuals were eager to finally embark on the trips they had originally intended for 2020 and 2021."
Maine's tourism industry continues to play a crucial role in boosting the economy, as indicated by the Maine Office of Tourism's record of 15.4 million tourists in 2022. This figure, while slightly lower than the 15.6 million recorded in 2021, illustrates the enduring significance of tourism for the state.
Last year, this place attracted a hefty sum of over $8.6 billion from tourists, which in turn helped sustain 151,000 job opportunities and added a substantial $5.6 billion to the earnings of households in Maine. Furthermore, those who came to explore this state also managed to save each household in Maine a notable amount of $2,172 in state and local taxes throughout the year.
According to a recent report from the National Park Service, Acadia National Park, a popular tourist spot in the state, welcomed 3.97 million visitors last year. This influx of visitors contributed a significant $479 million to the local economy and helped sustain approximately 6,700 job positions. In total, the park's economic impact amounted to an impressive $691 million.
This year, Maine saw an influx of tourists during the start of summer on Memorial Day weekend, with a 6.8% rise in traffic compared to the previous year, according to the Maine Turnpike Authority.
Jennifer Geiger, representative for the Maine Office of Tourism, mentioned that renowned places such as Popham Beach State Park frequently issued notifications during the summer, indicating that their parking spots were completely occupied by late morning on pleasant days.
However, she mentioned that the precipitation during a significant portion of June and July had a notable effect on the tourism industry in Maine.
According to Geiger, the amount of people camping in Maine's state parks had decreased by 4% until the end of August. Additionally, the number of day visits during that time had decreased by 15.9%.
The percentage of occupied lodgings in Maine experienced a decrease of approximately 2.5% in July, as reported by Smith Travel Research, a company that analyzes the hospitality industry. Nevertheless, Maine's performance was superior to that of Vermont and New Hampshire, where lodging occupancy saw a decline of 6.8% and 4.6%, respectively, according to Geiger.
Furthermore, initial statistics on internal excursion patterns suggest that visitors are now at ease with embarking on global journeys once more, leading to a widespread decline in local tourism, as stated by her.
According to Zachary Sundquist, the assistant airport director, there has been a significant surge in the number of travelers at the Portland International Jetport during the months of June and July. The figures indicate a substantial growth of 63,584 passengers, reflecting a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Sundquist expressed that this summer has been exceptionally robust. Maine is experiencing a high level of popularity and interest. It is anticipated that the figures will remain impressive throughout August, experience a slight decline in September, and then surge once more in October, likely due to the enchanting foliage season.
Crowds of people flock to Old Orchard Beach on Saturday. Photographer Brianna Soukup captures the scene.
During the summer season, the Maine Turnpike experienced a notable surge in travel. From June to most of August, there was a total rise of 1.2 million toll transactions, equivalent to a 4.6% increase. According to Erin Courtney, who serves as a representative for the Turnpike Authority, the toll transactions during that period in 2022 totaled 25.3 million, while this year, it reached 26.5 million.
Roger and Tamara Roberge, hailing from Berlin, New Hampshire, embarked on a journey down to southern Maine in their recreational vehicle, where they settled in for a summer of camping. On the occasions when rain poured down, they managed to create their own ray of happiness.
"We haven't allowed the rain to ruin our experience," stated Tamara Roberge. "We simply come equipped with our raincoats and proceed with our plans. In this region of New England, one cannot expect flawless weather conditions."
According to Krysta Norris, a supervisor at Johnny Shucks Maine Lobster, the eatery situated in Old Orchard Beach commenced its operation in May. The establishment procures lobsters and various types of seafood from the Johnny Shucks shellfishing organization.
"June was a tough month," Norris expressed. "However, as soon as July arrived, we experienced significant activity on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays."
During continuous rainy days, there was a lack of customers but a few individuals did manage to show up, as Norris stated. "We observed people strolling along the street donning their hooded jackets and parasols."
In spite of the precipitation, the overall performance of the business has been exceedingly satisfactory.
Customers queue up to place their orders at Allan Buotte's spot in the Pier French Fries establishment, co-owned by him and his wife, Tiffany, in Old Orchard Beach during the weekend. Brianna Soukup, the staff photographer, captured the scene.
The same goes for Pier French Fries and Bill's Pizza, which are possessed by Allan and Tiffany Buotte. At the conclusion of June, summer appeared to be postponed, and the enterprise was only operating at 50% of its usual capacity. However, as early as September, "things are looking up since we've experienced some sunnier days," mentioned Tiffany Buotte.
She mentioned that the figures have decreased in comparison to the previous summer. On days that are not ideal for beach visits, the residents do not seem to be interested. Nevertheless, Pier French Fries is managing decently throughout this summer.
Tiffany Buotte expressed her delight as a group of customers patiently queued up for their crinkle-cut fries. She mentioned that they have a significant number of devoted followers. The tourists have arrived and are eager to satisfy their appetites. Additionally, Tiffany emphasized their contentment with the current climate conditions. She recalled how the Labor Day weekend was dampened by rain last year, causing the tourists to depart ahead of schedule. However, with the sun shining brightly and temperatures reaching the 80s, the tourists will undoubtedly prolong their stay. Tiffany confidently predicted that this weekend is bound to outperform the previous year's experience.
The upcoming weather outlook indicates additional opportunities for beach outings, featuring pleasant temperatures and zero precipitation anticipated until the week's conclusion.
Gabi Mills, a 17-year-old girl, along with her 15-year-old sister Willa Crow, playfully bury Mills' boyfriend, Michael Thomas, in sand while spending time next to the water in Old Orchard Beach on a Saturday. Mills mentioned that she and Thomas, who hail from Derby, Vermont, visited Old Orchard Beach during the Fourth of July holiday, and unfortunately, it rained for the majority of their stay.
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