Maine Tourism Industry Advisory Board
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| Maine Tourism Industry Advisory Board | |
|---|---|
| Name | Maine Tourism Industry Advisory Board |
| Formation | 21st century |
| Type | Advisory board |
| Headquarters | Augusta, Maine |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Leader name | (varies) |
| Parent organization | Office of Tourism (Maine) |
Maine Tourism Industry Advisory Board The Maine Tourism Industry Advisory Board advises the Office of Tourism and state executives on travel, hospitality, and outdoor recreation policy across Maine. It connects representatives from coastal communities, inland recreation areas, arts institutions, transportation providers, and hospitality businesses to coordinate promotion and development. The Board interacts with elected officials, regional commissions, and nonprofit organizations to align visitor strategies with conservation, cultural preservation, and infrastructure priorities.
Overview
The Board brings together stakeholders from Portland, Maine, Bar Harbor, Maine, Acadia National Park, Kennebunkport, Maine, Camden, Maine, Rockland, Maine, Baxter State Park, Kittery, Maine, Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and Lubec, Maine to advise on marketing, research, and policy. Members often represent associations such as the Maine Tourism Association, Greater Portland Council of Governments, Maine Development Foundation, Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Outdoor Brands, and regional bodies like the Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism Council. The Board consults with institutions including the University of Maine, Colby College, Bowdoin College, and cultural sites like the Portland Museum of Art and Monhegan Island. It also liaises with transportation and conservation entities such as Maine Turnpike Authority, Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Forest Service, and National Park Service.
History and Establishment
The Board was formed amid statewide efforts involving leaders from Governor of Maine administrations, the Maine State Legislature, and agencies including the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the Office of Tourism. Early impetus drew on reports by the Maine Economic Growth Council, studies from the Maine Policy Institute, and recommendations from panels including representatives of the U.S. Travel Association and Visit Maine. Initial proposals referenced models from boards advising the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, and drew on regional planning approaches used by the Northern Forest Center and Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership.
Structure and Membership
Membership typically includes private-sector executives from lodging, restaurant, and tour companies such as representatives of L.L.Bean, Gorton’s, and local operators, alongside leaders of nonprofits like the Maine Humanities Council and Maine Tourism Association. Seats are often allotted to representatives of municipal governments like Augusta, Maine and Bangor, Maine, tribal entities including the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Maliseet communities, and academic research partners from University of Southern Maine and University of Maine at Machias. Ex officio members include commissioners from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and directors from the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation. Governance follows bylaws similar to those used by bodies such as the Maine Board of Environmental Protection and board practices of the Maine Historical Society.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Board advises on strategic marketing campaigns in coordination with organizations like Visit New England, Discover New England, and national partners such as Brand USA. It reviews data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and tourism research firms tied to the Oxford Economics and Longwoods International frameworks. Responsibilities include recommending grant allocations alongside programs like the Economic Development Administration funds, reviewing impact assessments related to sites like Acadia National Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and advising on workforce initiatives tied to Maine Community College System training programs and hospitality curricula at institutions like Bates College.
Major Initiatives and Programs
Initiatives advised by the Board have included statewide campaigns promoting regions such as the Downeast coast, the Western Maine Mountains, and island destinations including Mount Desert Island and Isle au Haut. Programs have supported festivals and events like the Maine Lobster Festival, Common Ground Country Fair, Camden Windjammer Festival, and the Portland Food & Wine Festival, and partnered with cultural institutions including the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Farnsworth Art Museum. Conservation-linked tourism efforts coordinated with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Maine Audubon, and the Nature Conservancy targeted sustainable access to rivers like the Kennebec River and Penobscot River. Infrastructure and resilience projects advised by the Board engaged the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on coastal erosion and harbor improvements in towns such as Rockport, Maine and Stonington, Maine.
Relationships with State Agencies and Stakeholders
The Board maintains formal relationships with the Maine Department of Transportation, Maine Department of Public Safety, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the Maine Office of Tourism to coordinate signage, wayfinding, and safety campaigns. It collaborates with economic development actors like the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Maine Technology Institute, and regional development corporations including Jackson Laboratory initiatives and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Board consults with federal partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on coastal management, and with nonprofit partners like Visit USA affiliates and the New England Aquarium on marine tourism.
Challenges and Future Directions
Key challenges addressed with stakeholders including the Federal Highway Administration and Environmental Protection Agency involve climate resilience for coastal communities like Saco, Maine and York, Maine, workforce shortages linked to seasonal employment in communities such as Wiscasset, Maine and Bethel, Maine, and balancing visitation at protected areas including Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park. Future directions emphasize partnerships with technology firms and research centers such as MIT, Harvard University, College of the Atlantic, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems for data-driven visitor management, collaborations with the Maine Climate Council and Maine Coastal Program for adaptation planning, and expanded cooperation with regional tourism bodies like Discover New England and national organizations such as the U.S. Travel Association to diversify markets and support year-round economies.