LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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In the letter below, the bolded sections are from the letter writer herself, not us. The photo below is also from the letter writer who wanted it included.

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Why Bar Harbor’s War on Tourism Is a Mistake

When did Bar Harbor’s municipal government decide that its imagination begins and ends with limiting and taxing the tourism industry?

Bar Harbor is revealing a troubling lack of imagination in addressing the town’s financial, housing, and vehicle challenges by reducing tourism, the very vehicle that has the capacity to solve our problems.

Bar Harbor’s Unique Balance of Resources

Bar Harbor’s natural beauty and economic prosperity are its two greatest assets. These resources will always exist in a delicate balance, and it’s the role of leadership to foster that balance thoughtfully. Unfortunately, recent policies have leaned into the idea that protecting one requires undermining the other. This approach lacks nuance and fails to recognize how economic vitality supports Bar Harbor’s youth and quality of life.

Tourism is not just a byproduct of our natural beauty—it’s a way to celebrate and sustain it. Revenue from the tourism industry funds local infrastructure, supports local non-profits, and provides meaningful jobs to low- and middle-income residents. When the town actively restricts this economic engine through hotel moratoriums, cruise ship limitations, and vacation rental regulations, it isn’t protecting Bar Harbor—it’s hamstringing the very industry that provides the actual solutions.

The Housing Crisis and the Role of Local Hotels

Bar Harbor’s housing crisis is undeniable. Our town’s youth population is shrinking, while our older population continues to grow. If we want to attract and retain young families and workers, the availability of workforce housing is critical. Yet, instead of focusing on solutions that work, the town is penalizing the very industry that has historically stepped up to address this issue.

Local hotel owners have been the only stakeholders to meaningfully invest in workforce housing by building apartments and rentals that directly support their employees. The belief that outside developers will come to our rescue is wishful thinking, and has already been proven false. Bar Harbor has not made the necessary land use changes to incentivize such projects. Without these changes, the burden falls on local businesses—primarily hotels—to keep our workforce housed and our economy running.

By targeting hotel growth with moratoriums and increased taxes, the town is effectively cutting off one of the only viable sources of workforce housing. Organizations like OPL, Witham Family Properties, Stay Bar Harbor, and individuals like Brian Shaw have made significant contributions to workforce housing over the last 20 years. These efforts are critical to keeping Bar Harbor functioning, yet the town’s actions dissuade further commercial investment, making it harder to address the housing crisis. This approach hinders the tourism industry, deepens the housing crisis, and makes it harder for Bar Harbor to attract the very people it needs to sustain its future.

The Backfire of Restricting Hotel Growth

Restricting hotel growth may seem like a straightforward way to manage Bar Harbor’s infrastructure and protect its natural beauty, but the reality is far more complicated. Policies like hotel moratoriums, vacation rental limitations, and cruise ship restrictions are counterproductive. Rather than reducing congestion or preserving the town’s character, these measures have unintended consequences that exacerbate the very problems they aim to solve.

By capping the number of available hotel rooms, Bar Harbor pushes visitors to stay in nearby towns, such as Trenton or Ellsworth. These visitors then drive into Bar Harbor, increasing vehicle congestion and parking issues. Additionally, when more visitors stay overnight elsewhere, the town loses out on the broader economic benefits that overnight stays provide—patronizing local businesses, dining in restaurants, and participating in recreational activities. The end result is a strained tax base, leaving residents to shoulder a greater share of the burden, and more congestion.

Furthermore, while the town imposes these restrictions on commercial businesses, non-profits—many of which are exempt from taxes—continue to expand. While non-profits provide valuable services, their growth doesn’t contribute to the town’s tax base. Instead, Bar Harbor’s policies create a lopsided dynamic where commercial growth is stifled, and the economic burden falls disproportionately on residents.

If Bar Harbor truly wants to reduce congestion and protect its natural beauty, it needs to think bigger. Solutions like investing in public transit, encouraging green tourism initiatives, and collaborating with local businesses on creative housing and infrastructure projects could address these challenges without sacrificing the town’s economic lifeblood. Restricting hotel growth isn’t a solution—it’s a setback.

The Point

Bar Harbor is at a crossroads. While the challenges of housing, vehicle congestion, and preserving natural beauty are undeniable, the solutions being proposed by the municipal government are short-sighted and counterproductive. By targeting the tourism industry with moratoriums, taxes, and restrictions, the town is alienating the very economic engine that drives innovative solutions.

It’s time for Bar Harbor’s leaders to rethink their approach. Instead of punishing tourism, they should be collaborating with local businesses, residents, and community organizations to create sustainable policies that support both the economy and the environment. With imagination and cooperation, Bar Harbor can address its challenges while preserving the delicate balance that makes this town so unique.

The tourism industry isn’t the enemy—it’s the key to our community success. Let’s treat it as such.

–Nina Barufaldi St.Germain