Tourism and Economic Revitalization in the Greater Baxter Region

1
Tourism and Economic Revitalization in the
Greater Baxter Region

• Whats Possible?
• Whats Desirable?
• David Vail
• Bowdoin College
• Maine Center for Economic Policy

2
The Strategic Challenge in a Nutshell

• Future growth will require better
• coordination of tourism attractions into
• an overall package, and improvement
• in the tourism product and variety of
• offerings.
• EMDC, Katahdin Region Strategy
• 2000 (p. 8)

3
Sobering Realities State Level

• Marketable Overnight Trips Stagnant
• Maines perceived weaknesses Culture, Dining
  Hotels
• Real Tourist Spending Stagnant
• Largest Spending Category Shopping (31)
• Big Four 87
• Rising Fuel Costs Extreme Car Dependence
• Maines Top 10 Destinations All Coastal
• Competitors, Near and Far
• White Mtns, Champlain, Adirondacks
• Rockies, Alps, Andes, etc.

4
Sobering Realities Greater Baxter Region

• Katahdin/Baxter 15th- ranked destination
• Declining Trends hunting, fishing, camping
• Rafting and Katahdin hikes maxed-out?
• The Big Market boomer general tourists
• Regions Current offerings not well matched
• Distance from Boston limited Bangor flights
• Few coastal tourists venture inland
• A big unknown fuel prices and their impact

5
Whats Possible? Niche Opportunities

• No brainer Retain attractiveness for hunting,
  fishing, hiking, camping
• Fall Attract more leaf peepers
• Summer Piggy-back on Bangor Folk Festival
• Winter Expand role as snowmobiling destination

6
Whats Possible? The Big Challenge

• Creating a High Profile Destination for
• Affluent, Middle-aged, Quality-Demanding
• Experiential Tourists
• Large multi-attraction resorts? Yes!
• Soft outdoor adventure
• wildlife watching, photo safaris, flatwater
  paddling, etc.
• Critical role of interpretation
• Culture heritage
• Critical role of interpretation
• Diverse dining choices

7
Whats Possible?Maybe a World Class Destination

• 1 Twin National Parks - Bangor as Hub
• Remember 2.2 million/year visit Acadia
• o.k., not a national park, but a strategy for
  developing, branding and marketing public lands
  and easements in the North Woods
• 2 Hooking up with exciting efforts in the
  greater Moosehead region
• Fermatas proposals X 10

8
Anticipating and Limiting Tourisms Downside
Effects

• The challenge of creating quality jobs
• Local price inflation
• Esp. rental housing
• Cost of local government services
• Few state revenues returned to host communities
• Erosion of residents quality of life
• Culture clash
• Crowded town centers
• Congestion or loss of access to natural
  attractions

9
Large Scale Tourism Growth Is it What You Want?

• Devil in the details.
• Not growth for growths sake
• Planning and management to minimize downside and
  compensate losers
• Grappling with social and ecological carrying
  capacity
• Realism What are your alternatives to tourism?