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STATE OF MAINE TOURISM PARTNER NEWS

HIGHLIGHTS

A 1937 tourism initiative, the Pine Tree Trail, has been revived after 85 years.

The 500-mile trail was first established when George E. Martin, a legislator from Milford, spearheaded an effort to encourage visitors to travel further inland in Maine by officially designating the road leading from Portland to Fort Kent as the Pine Tree Trail. The trail fell into disuse with new road development over the years, until the discovery of an old road sign by Maine resident Nathan Nipula sparked interest in reviving the historic trail and reinstalling signage along the route, which now includes portions of Route 1, Route 1A, Route 2, Route 2A, Route 11, and Route 100.

Through a grassroots effort, funds were raised to produce 100 new signs, which will be installed by the Maine Department of Transportation during Fall 2022. The Maine Office of Tourism has partnered with MDOT to fund the installation encouraging travelers to explore the dozens of communities located along the trail. Learn more at PineTreeTrail.com.



MARKETING

During Summer 2022, the Office of Tourism fielded marketing through strategic partnerships with a variety of publishing platforms. Recent results include:

• “The Indigenous Origins of the Maine Lobster Bake” written by Atlas Obscura  
• A Yankee Magazine custom video segment focusing on the Maine Island Trail  
• A National Geographic nature article written by photographer Pete Muller, who lives in Portland

INTERNATIONAL MARKETING

ICYMI – a recording of the Discover New England August webinar “Why International, Why Now” is available online at Upcoming Trainings - Discover New England

International inbound travel to New England is fast on the rise and expected to more than double by the end of 2024. For updates to New England efforts to reach this valuable market subscribe to the DNE newsletter at Contact - Discover New England

PARTNER NEWS

Thinking about installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers at your business?

Efficiency Maine is seeking applications for Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers that are available to the public in rural communities. Incentives are now available for installation of chargers in the state’s 14 northern counties (i.e., all counties except Cumberland County and York County) to enhance those communities’ capacity to attract commerce and tourism and serve the community.  Applications are open until November 17, 2022.

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Click here to find current EV fast charging stations in Maine.

The State of Maine is seeking proposals for a program management contractor to assist the DECD Office of Business Development with the development and implementation of the Domestic Trade Pilot Program to help Maine businesses with domestic trade.

A copy of RFP202208143, as well as the Question & Answer Summary and all amendments related to the RFP, can be obtained at: https://www.maine.gov/dafs/bbm/procurementservices/vendors/rfps .

The Proposal Submission Deadline is September 20^th, 2022

Maine Outdoor Economy Summit – Early Bird Registration Extended to 9/16!

Connect with Industry leaders, discuss the latest topics and trends, and share ideas as we highlight the importance of outdoor recreation for Maine’s economy overall and its deeply-rooted connection to the health and well-being of our people, places and communities.

WHEN: October 12-13, 2022

WHERE: Thompsons Point, Portland

Hosted by the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Maine Outdoor Brands

Click here for registration and more information.

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