Maine’s tourism industry is expecting the pandemic and difficulties in hiring to continue to hinder growth in the spring, according to a report.
A recent survey conducted by the Maine Tourism Association shows that many businesses in the state are reducing their hours of operation.
The survey showed that 32% of respondents believed that December’s holiday season was better than normal years like 2019, while 19% thought business was the usual. Although 26% said business was worse than past holidays.
The percentage of people who claimed that COVID variants affected their holiday business was nearly evenly split, with 49% of respondents saying yes and 51% saying no.
The Maine Tourism Association represents about 1,500 members. The survey drew a 10% response rate, the trade association said. Respondents were from all over the state, but the majority were from the midcoast and islands, greater Portland and Casco Bay, as well as the beaches.
Through the rest of the winter, just 11% of those surveyed believed that business would be better than a year prior to the pandemic. Meanwhile, 38% predicted that it would remain the same, and 30% expected business to be worse than 2019.
About half of respondents indicated that they plan to cut back on the number of days or hours they operate over the next three months, which they typically wouldn’t do during this time. Out of all the respondents, 32% cited the shortage of staff, 34% mentioned less business because of COVID, and 15% of respondents pointed to supply chain issues.
A majority of the respondents (49%) believe that the spring season (April-June) will be similar to the year before the outbreak, and 23% think it will be better. Another 26% think spring business is going to be less profitable.
“It’s great to see that tourism businesses had a good holiday season and are largely optimistic about the next few months. A strong winter and spring will provide a good foundation heading into the summer. As our businesses work hard to recover from 2020’s losses, the pandemic and workforce challenges are still hampering their path to full recovery,” said Maine Tourism Association’s CEO Tony Cameron.
“A successful and sustainable tourism industry benefits not just tourism businesses themselves but everyone in Maine due to the industry’s strong impact on Maine’s economy.”
The Maine Tourism Association is the state’s biggest advocate for all tourism-related companies. Its members include hotels and inns, restaurants, camps, campgrounds, retail, outdoor recreation, guides, tour operators, amusements, as well as historic and cultural attractions.