Letter: Maine’s tourism economy is in decline

MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 17, 2026

Visitor numbers in Maine have declined steadily from a post-pandemic peak of 15.6 million in 2021 to last year’s 14.8 million, an 8% drop. And, accounting for the overall rise in consumer prices, “real” tourist spending in 2025 was 1.6% lower than in 2024 and 2.6% below the 2022 peak. This looks worse than stagnation. The dismal five-year trends suggest that we are not effectively developing or promoting quality “products” and destinations that could make tourism a dynamic part of Maine’s economy. ~ David Vail, Brunswick