Federal immigration authorities are expected to release an additional 30,000 visas for the workers, which could help fill seasonal labor gaps afflicting Maine’s summer tourism businesses.
tourism
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers seek to make motorists from away pay more for Maine’s highways
The Maine Legislature is eyeing a summertime gas tax hike to help close a longstanding funding gap for infrastructure needs.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Seasonal businesses could again get subsidies for hiring teen workers
Last year’s pilot program paid out $12,743 in grants to 16 businesses to partially cover wages, according to Maine Department of Labor records.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Maine hospitality industry turns to retirees to stem labor shortage
Two York County towns tap older workers for hospitality jobs and get unexpected results.
Posted inBusiness
Maine state parks nearing 3 million visitors a year
Visits to the state’s 48 parks grew by 11 percent in 2018, with Sebabo Lake, Lily Bay and Bradbury Mountain leading the way.
Posted inLocal & State, News, sj-web
Susan Collins’ vote on Brett Kavanaugh fuels calls for boycott of Maine
People upset with Sen. Susan Collins’ support for now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh are calling for a boycott of Maine products and tourism. “Dear Susan Collins — I really struggled with this but my tourist $ just voted against ever visiting Maine while you remain in office,” actor and comedian John Fugelsang tweeted out to his 413,000 […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
High gas prices not expected to lessen Labor Day weekend traffic
Despite relatively high gas prices, transportation officials are expecting record vehicle traffic in Maine over the Labor Day weekend. They’re also expecting a large number of breakdowns and accidents, and they warned motorists to check vehicles for safety, stay sober and put down the smartphones. “There’s no reason not to believe that this will be […]
Posted inBusiness
Airbnb bookings in Maine rise 45% this summer
The online home-sharing service Airbnb is continuing its rapid growth in Maine even as some communities rethink their regulatory approaches to short-term rentals like those offered by the company. The number of guests staying at private Maine properties hosted through Airbnb grew by 45 percent this summer, to 229,000 from 158,000 in the same period […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat
Oxford hears about area tourism
OXFORD — A total of 4.8 million visitors came to this region last year bringing in $670 million, Dina Jackson, marketing coordinator for tourism for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments told the Oxford Board of Selectmen. Jackson, who was asked to come to the meeting after officials expressed interest in promoting local tourism as an […]
Posted inBusiness
Canadians still visiting US despite trade flap
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — The United States and Canada are engaged in a trade dispute, angering Canadians, but it doesn’t seem to be having an impact on tourism. Not yet, anyway. In Old Orchard Beach, popular with Quebecers, innkeepers report that Canadian tourism remains strong despite the harsh words last month when Prime […]