BAR HARBOR, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- During the summer and early fall months, Maine's port towns have cruise ships drop off tourists in the towns and those people play a big role in the economy.
The commissioner with the Department of Economic and Community Development George Gervais said the cruise industry has an economic impact of about $45 million for the state.
Gervais said as tourists come ashore in towns like Bar Harbor they spend money in the local shops and restaurants which is beneficial for both the port towns and the state.
"If you consider 321 cruise ships across our ports in Maine this year, and then you consider today, 5,000 people coming into Bar Harbor, the math is pretty impressive. And then we've got these businesses really seeing an impact on their sales, of course that translates to sales tax for the state. It's a win, win for everybody," Gervais said.
Gervais said there have been some talks with Carnival Cruise Ships to try and get the cruise ships to make stops in Maine as early as April or May to try and lengthen the tourist season.
NEWS CENTER