Seeking Sustainable Tourism, Bar Harbor Encounters an Old Debate. Cruise ships, strategy, and surveys highlight latest discussion.

Bar Harbor Tourism Task Force Considers Recommending Permanent Advisory Council

Members also debated funding strategies, including a local option sales tax. Carrie Jones Jul 15, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Elise N. Frank. BAR HARBOR—How to make best use of the time moving forward is a key question for the town’s Sustainable Tourism Task Force. “We’re looking at a tight timeline for delivering the strategy,” consultant Ben Nussbaumer … Continue reading Bar Harbor Tourism Task Force Considers Recommending Permanent Advisory Council

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Lead Consultant For Bar Harbor’s Tourism Task Force Stepping Back As She Takes Another Interim Position.

Plus, recent advisories and press releases. Carrie Jones May 19, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware. BAR HARBOR—The lead consultant for the Bar Harbor Sustainable Tourism Management Task Force has taken an interim CEO position for a Canadian museum and is stepping back from her role, her colleague at J.E. Austin Associates told the town’s task force members, May 13. … Continue reading Lead Consultant For Bar Harbor’s Tourism Task Force Stepping Back As She Takes Another Interim Position.

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Consultants Discuss Tourism ‘Tensions’ in Bar Harbor.

Town, they suggest, faces three. Carrie Jones Mar 13, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management. BAR HARBOR—There are three key problems for Bar Harbor when it comes to sustainable tourism, a consultant from J.E. Austin Associates explained to a 13-member task force the town formed to help create a goal and actions relating to tourism. “At some point we’re going to … Continue reading Consultants Discuss Tourism ‘Tensions’ in Bar Harbor.

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All Buses Head to Bar Harbor . . . League of Towns Talks Island Explorer and Transportation

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Consultant Says Bar Harbor Sees 15,000 Visitors a Day in Summer Peaks. Fewer Than 500 in Winter.

Bar Harbor’s Tourism Economy Faces Big Swings and Big Planning Implications. Carrie Jones Feb 21, 2026 BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor may feel crowded in July, but to much of the world it barely exists. It can host fifteen thousand people a day at the waterfront in July and fewer than 500 in winter. Those extremes, outlined in a new tourism analysis presented by Australian data consultant … Continue reading Consultant Says Bar Harbor Sees 15,000 Visitors a Day in Summer Peaks. Fewer Than 500 in Winter.

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Tourism Task Force Reviews Survey Results, Hears Call for Year-Round Economy

Carrie Jones Dec 18, 2025 BAR HARBOR—Moving from a chair in the back of the council chambers, Stewart Brecher took a seat at the workshop table, December 10, telling the members of the town’s sustainable tourism task force that he’d been a resident of Bar Harbor for approximately half his life. Politely, he explained to the members that he didn’t think that the town was … Continue reading Tourism Task Force Reviews Survey Results, Hears Call for Year-Round Economy

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What Does Sustainable Tourism Mean For Bar Harbor?

Task Force Begins Work To Define It Carrie Jones Sep 11, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen. BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Sustainable Tourism Task Force began to hone a definition of what “sustainable tourism” is, a necessary step toward its work to create a report for the Bar Harbor Town Council. The definition is also necessary so that … Continue reading What Does Sustainable Tourism Mean For Bar Harbor?

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Tourism at a Crossroads:

Bar Harbor Task Force And Consultants Begins 16-Month Tourism Strategy Carrie Jones Aug 20, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—The Sustainable Tourism Task Force met the consultants who will lead them for the next 16 months or so as Bar Harbor tries to gather multiple thoughts, needs, and opinion to create a tourism strategy. Task force … Continue reading Tourism at a Crossroads:

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Lodging Moratorium Extended as Bar Harbor Continues to Collect Data

Council Extends Lodging Freeze, Sparking Discussion on Development and Housing Carrie Jones Jul 02, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor’s moratorium on multiple lodging types has been extended for another 180 days. “I don’t think it is time to put a stop to the moratorium,” Councilor Joe Minutolo said during a Tuesday night town … Continue reading Lodging Moratorium Extended as Bar Harbor Continues to Collect Data

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Doing the Work, Workshop Style

Bar Harbor Council workshops short term rentals, committees, and tourism task force Carrie Jones Jan 09, 2025 BAR HARBOR—According to Town Manager James Smith, the focus of the Bar Harbor Town Council’s workshop on Tuesday night was to shape high-level objectives for the town. The seven councilors and staff touched on multiple big-ticket items for the town including changing short-term rental rules for home-owners who … Continue reading Doing the Work, Workshop Style

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Bar Harbor Council Set To Explore Sustainable Tourism While Park and Town Continue to Tackle Storm Damage

CARRIE JONES FEB 9, 2024 Share BAR HARBOR—Back in September, the Bar Harbor Town Council spoke about creating a sustainable tourism plan to try to deal with things like summertime congestion. “We need to be ready to jump in and figure out an overall holistic sustainable tourism plan,” council member Matt Hochman had said. “I think a management committee is the only way we can … Continue reading Bar Harbor Council Set To Explore Sustainable Tourism While Park and Town Continue to Tackle Storm Damage

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