BAR HARBOR, Maine — It's not unusual for Bar Harbor to be quiet during the first week of March—businesses and restaurants are still weeks away from the typical tourism season. But Gov. Janet Mills' "Moving Maine Forward" plan, announced Friday, sparked life into the idea of having a typical summer in town and across the state.
The plan allows for indoor capacity limits for businesses to increase to 50 percent on March 26 and 75 percent on May 24. Outdoor capacity limits will increase to 75 percent on March 26 and 100 percent on May 24.
“Those capacity limits being raised will really go a long way to help our retail and dining establishments," Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alf Anderson said.
Restaurant owners, like Timothy Rich who owns The Independent Cafe, were thrilled to hear Friday's news.
“We’re going to have a chance to make up some of that ground and hope it’s going to be a great year for everybody," he said.
Rich said this was not a typical off-season in town. Many places, like his cafe, closed for the season earlier than years past. He added he will be opening for the tourism season on April 1.
“We’re just really excited to get back to work," Rich said.
Relaxed travel restrictions were also announced in Friday's virtual press conference. Before Friday, only New Hampshire and Vermont residents could come to Maine without being tested for COVID-19 or quarantining.
Effective immediately, people can travel from any New England state to Maine without taking a test or staying in quarantine and can return to Maine. In addition, travelers from any state who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have had COVID-19 in the past are exempt from travel restrictions.
This is big news for Maine's lodging industry which could not accommodate guests for much of last season. Eben Salvatore, the director of operations for Bar Harbor Resorts, reflected on last summer outside the Bar Harbor Regency, and said, “It was more than weird, it was terrifying."
The lifelong Bar Harbor resident added how crucial it would be to allow out-of-state visitors into Maine this year. Salvatore spoke to NEWS CENTER Maine before Mills made her announcement.
When Maine's hotels and motels couldn't accept reservations from tourists early last summer, Salvatore noticed many people canceled their trips here and instead went to New York, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire.
After a few months of operating during pandemic restrictions in 2020, Salvatore said his staff is confident that it can keep guests comfortable in 2021.
“Now, unlike a year ago, we can look at our past summer and say we can do this safely," he said.
Even with more folks expected to visit Bar Harbor and other tourism destinations around Maine, Anderson said people can expect businesses and restaurants to still adhere to crucial guidelines to keep everyone safe like the town did last summer.
“We know we can welcome people safely, we did it," he added.