Tourism is well-documented as one of the largest sources of revenue for the State of Maine, and the new Nova Star ferry service, which will run from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Portland, will undoubtedly give a boost to the industry. According to a recent Associated Press report, Greg Mitchell, economic development director for the City of Portland, expects that each ferry passenger will have about a $100 impact for the city, on their way to or from the ride. With daily round-trips planned and a capacity of 1,200 passengers, that could be a big boost, indeed.
By land, Nova Scotia is about 400 miles away, or 8.5 hours of driving time with a short ferry ride. Taking the ferry from Portland to Yarmouth is about 185 nautical miles and takes 10 hours. The Nova Star is offering an overnight cruise, however, so instead of wasting a full day driving, tourists can sleep away the travel time and arrive rested to spend some time in Canada.
It’s a great idea to connect Maine and Nova Scotia by ferry, particularly for the Canadian side, which will benefit from all the American tourists who are looking for a bit of adventure without spending another day driving. By opening up another unique opportunity for those visiting southern Maine, it’ll also serve as a draw to this region and bring in more tourist dollars. Visitors will more easily be able to combine a Canadian excursion with a few days spent at York County’s beachside communities, spreading out their spending along the way.
The new ferry is a pricey option, at $139 per person, peak season, for transit alone. A cabin will cost you at least $50 per person ”“ and that’s just to sleep in recliners ”“ plus a minimum of $200 to bring a small car. Add in charges and fees, and that’s about $600 per couple, one way.
Clearly, the ferry is being billed as a luxury cruise, with fine dining options, entertainment, gambling, a spa and even an art gallery. It’s no wonder the company is promoting the ferry in the Boston area, where tourists who can afford to indulge in this service will be enticed to drive up to Portland to catch the ship.
The price will keep many locals from giving the ferry a shot, but the tourism boost will be good for not only Portland but the entire southern Maine area, as visitors from Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere make stops along the coast on their way to the port.
International and interstate tourism promotion partnerships such as this should be more prevalent, and we’re glad to see they are taking hold. Beginning next summer, an overnight train from Montreal to Boston is expected to begin operation, offering tourists a relaxing and entertaining travel option ”“ similar to the ferry ”“ allowing them to visit OOB without using a car. Old Orchard Beach has long been a destination for Quebecois, but visitors have had to rely on private vehicles to get to the beach. Many Montreal residents rely on public transportation and do not own cars, so this option will make it easy for them to come down to southern Maine. It’s no wonder the OOB town council has fully endorsed plans for the train.
While the train will be a new effort in this era, the ferry had been successful for decades, but has been sporadic in recent years due to money issues. The Scotia Prince operated from 1982 to 2004, and the high-speed ferry, The Cat, ran from 2006-09, according to AP reports. Restoration of the ferry service has been widely celebrated, in the harbors of Boston, Portland and Yarmouth, due to the expected positive economic impact. Perhaps the luxury angle, rather than speed, will allow the current operator to find success in making this service profitable so it can be a boon to southern Maine tourism for years to come.
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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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