MAINE, USA — Maine’s state parks saw a slight dip in visitors in 2023 compared to record-breaking results the two years prior.
The State Parks Bureau released its 2023 figures last month and found that 2.93 million people visited Maine's 48 state parks and sites.
That’s down from 3.28 million in 2022 and a record 3.3 million in 2021. The dip could be attributed to a natural settling back to normal after so many people wanted to get outside during the pandemic.
Parks Director Andy Cutko acknowledged that and blamed repeated storms as well.
"We had one of the rainiest summers in a long, long time," Cutko said. "So, I think the next couple of years will indicate which of those two factors was more prominent. My guess is that Mainers love their state parks, and we’ll see a return to the 2021 and 2022 numbers."
As climate change is predicted to make weather patterns more volatile, Cutko set his eyes on infrastructure improvements to roads and buildings and, as he described it, “Managing these recreational and ecological treasures in the right way, that also allows nature to take its course.”
The Maine Office of Tourism had not yet released its 2023 numbers, which speak to broader visitation trends. But, between what glimpses Director Steve Lyons had seen from the latest data so far, mixed with 2022's results, he saw signs of continued growth, as vacationland ate up more summer vacation time.
"We did see an increase in visitor days in the summertime," he said of the 2022 data. "So, that increased by about 8%."
While Cutko looked to shoring up infrastructure to defend against climate change, Lyons pondered how future weather patterns might impact his realm.
"Winter, for example, if snow isn’t going to be as reliable as it once was, how do we do marketing for tourism in the winter time," he stated.
The Maine Office of Tourism is expected to release its full report sometime in the spring. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Parks and Land began taking reservations for some state campsites on Feb. 1.