November 2024 Election Vote YES on 4!
The Association to Preserve and Protect Local Livelihoods - Replace and improve our cruise-tourism management ordinance in Nov. 2024
A recent citizens-initiated referendum and subsequent ordinance brought by a small group of locals imposes a limit on cruise ship “persons” disembarking at Bar Harbor to 1,000 per day. Most ships that visit Bar Harbor during the fall shoulder season carry 2,000 - 3,000 “lower berth” passengers. Cruise lines are neither willing nor able to prevent passengers and crew from disembarking in Bar Harbor, a port known to be one of the most popular in North America.
The drastic effect of the existing anti-tourism ordinance on cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor (as published by Cruise Maine and the Town of Bar Harbor in September 2022) has been supported by evidence that the 1,000-person daily limit will eliminate 95% of cruise ship visitors coming into Bar Harbor. Most cruise lines won’t include Bar Harbor on their itineraries if they cannot offer their passengers and staff an opportunity to disembark. The Ordinance will likely, therefore, eliminate cruise ship visitation into Bar Harbor altogether. We can see the impact of this drastic ordinance by looking at the 90% reduction already noted in 2025 advanced bookings. Most importantly, if we lose cruise tourism, we will likely lose many local businesses that depend on the shoulder season to stay afloat during the winter and early spring.
Cruise tourism contributes significantly to municipal revenue and serves as vital shoulder season support for the local economy. We take our stand out of economic necessity for our members, Town, and State (all of which could lose tens of millions of dollars annually. As an island community, we depend on the success of our economy fueled by small businesses and their workers. This enables us to support critical local services like fire and police protection and allows investment in our hospitals, libraries, nonprofits, and schools. As year-round residents, our ability to live and work in this beautiful place is made possible — in large part — by our tourism economy.
Instead of applying this arbitrary and inflexible 1000-person limit every day of the year, APPLL supports and agrees with a new balanced solution that will be on the ballot in November 2024. A product of collaborative discussion between the Town of Bar Harbor, local citizens, business interests, and the Cruise Lines, a replacement ordinance (to be approved by voting “Yes on Ballot Measure Four.”) will place more moderate caps on daily visits from cruise passengers and crew but will also add cruise-free days and an essential measure of predictability benefitting all over subsequent years.
All visitors, businesses, and residents of Bar Harbor benefit from balanced and common-sense visitation levels, especially during the crucial shoulder seasons. APPLL and its members stand ready to work with the town and its residents to address balanced cruise ship visitation that will support our member businesses and employees and be consistent with Bar Harbor’s open and welcoming hospitality tradition.