PORTLAND (AP) – Despite high gas prices, all the indications are that the Maine tourist season that traditionally begins with Memorial Day weekend will be strong, tourism officials say.

Already, airlines, Amtrak and bus companies have told Portland’s transportation director that they’ve had strong ticket sales for the weekend and beyond. The American Automobile Association estimates the number of travelers this weekend will grow 3.6 percent.

“I think there’s this unsettled feeling about the economy and about terrorism. But I think that in general … there is a pent-up demand and people are prepared to travel,” said Kathryn Weare, who owns the Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit.

Gov. John Baldacci said the indicators his office looks at in determining what sort of tourist season the state will have make him optimistic.

“We’re noticing that the visitor center traffic is up 2.6 percent over last year, they’re talking about the Portland Jetport is up 4.6 percent, Bangor International Airport is up more than 25 percent, restaurant sales are up more than 8 percent,” he said.

Tourism officials “have some very good numbers in terms of early commitments,” Baldacci added.

The positive outlook comes despite high gas prices. On average, Mainers were paying $7 more this week to fill up than they were when the price run-up began in January, according to an analysis by the Portland Press Herald.

The analysis suggests millions of dollars that could have spent elsewhere are going into people’s gas tanks instead in Maine.

While acknowledging that the added expense is a burden for low-income drivers and for those who commute long distances, observers say that – at least for now – prices don’t appear to be high enough to have much of an impact on spending or to change the behavior of most people.

“It’s more of a psychological reaction than an economic one,” said Laurie Lachance, Maine’s state economist. “The money has to come from somewhere, but I don’t think it will alter people’s lifestyle in the short run.”

The Maine Turnpike Authority was expecting travel to continue on an upward trend despite higher gas prices.

The number of motorists on the toll road increased by 6.1 percent this February over last, 7.1 percent in March and 6.1 percent in April, said Dan Paradee, turnpike spokesman.

If the trend continues as expected, an extra 40,000 vehicles will use the road from Friday through Monday.

Meanwhile, Maine and New Hampshire state police compared notes Friday on their traffic enforcement plans for the weekend.

Maine troopers were teaming up with their counterparts from New Hampshire in patrolling the 17 miles of I-95 between the toll booths in York, Maine, and Hampton, N.H. The effort will include unmarked cruisers, special enforcement efforts and coordination between troopers of the two departments.

That’s in addition to extra patrols looking for those who drive too fast, aggressively or drunk, said Col. Craig Poulin, state police chief. Troopers also were enforcing Maine’s seat belt laws.

AP-ES-05-28-04 1349EDT