BAR HARBOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Tourism Caucus, attended the 17^th Annual Cruise Canada New England Symposium where he welcomed the crowd of more than 120 participants, including representatives from the cruise ship industry and Canadian officials working to promote trade and tourism in the region. In his remarks, King highlighted the substantial economic activity that cruise ships generate in Maine.  

“Tourism is crucial to Maine’s economy, and the cruise ship industry is a key leader in tourism, spurring economic development and job growth,” said Senator King. “The ships bring people, those people enjoy the abundance of our state, and their tourism supports small business and creates jobs – a positive effect that ripples through our economy. Along with our Canadian friends and partners, we join together today to recognize the significant economic activity that cruise ships bring to the region. And we look forward to building on those ties while preserving the character and beauty that makes Maine so special.”

In 2013, the cruise industry contributed an estimated $46.2 million in direct spending in Maine, and generated 747 jobs and $25.5 million in wages for Maine workers.  This coming season will bring 427 cruise visits from 26 different vessels operated by 17 different cruise brands.  

The Cruise Canada New England Symposium is a three-day international conference hosted by CruiseMaine USA at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor. The symposium brought together senior leadership from four of the major cruise lines for a panel discussion on the industry’s future in New England and Canada. This discussion touched on the visitor experience at Acadia National Park, which is the main attraction for cruise ships coming to Bar Harbor.

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