Tourism Spending Up in 2005

from "Tourism spending rose in 2005, state reports" by Tux Terkel, Portland Press-Herald, August 18, 2006

Maine's tourism industry broke out of a four-year slump in 2005 and increased the total number of overnight trips to the state by 9 percent and the number of overnight vacationers by 12 percent, figures being released today show.

"2005 was a very good year," said Dann Lewis, the state's tourism director. "It reversed a trend that had been soft for four years."

Overall, Maine hosted 9.7 million overnight trips in 2005, a 9 percent increase. Overnight trips are a key barometer in the tourism industry because those visitors spend the most money for food, lodging and services.