A 2022 census states that there were 1,385,340 people living in the state. However, in that very same year, 15.3 million people visited Maine. That is just over 11 times as many people that visited the state than those who actually reside here. This is a huge ratio, and it’s causing problems for the residents of Maine. 

This time of year (late September into early October) is an incredibly popular time for tourism. This is primarily due to the beautiful trees that change color before dropping their leaves for the season. People come from all over to gaze upon the scenic beauty of Maine autumn. However, all of this tourism coming into the state is much more detrimental than it is beneficial. While tourism does bring quite a bit of money into the economy, it also destroys various other parts of our precious state. 

Activities related to tourism are known to increase noise levels with things such as music, vehicles, etc., which can contribute greatly to air pollution. Tourism can also put pressure on natural resources via overconsumption, especially in areas where resources are already scarce, as well as put unnecessary stress on local land, which can then lead to soil erosion. Tourism can also lead to natural habitat loss for so many of our native animals, which then can put pressure on endangered species, as well as potentially add to the ever-growing list. 

One of the biggest issues with tourism in Maine is the effect it has on climate change. Climate change is already greatly affecting Maine’s ecosystems and coastal areas, and tourism can contribute to climate change both through air and car travel.

In order to ‘keep up’ with the demands of tourism, communities are dealing with significant increases in taxes, just to be able to fund the demands made. Not to mention that the overall cost of living within these communities are going up, alongside the price of rent, rates and property values. People in certain areas of Maine that get flooded with tourists are now not able to afford to live their lives due to the continuous influx of tourists, readily wanting to experience an East-Coast fall. An article written by Anthropologist Morgan Glup states that overtourism has been found to directly correlate to a decreased quality of life for residents by increasing housing costs, limiting the diversity of economic opportunities and exposing residents to the misuse of public spaces. 

Maine is working to promote ecotourism, which focuses primarily on minimizing the impact of tourism on the environment within the state. Ecotourism principles include responsible travel, environmental conservation, education and community involvement. These efforts may help, but they will in no way be able to undo the damage that’s already been done, nor will they be able to prevent much more damage without the overall number of tourists decreasing.