Maine summer tourism is down, with the state reporting a 9 percent drop in tourist visits this past summer compared to 2023.

The Maine Tourism Board says the decrease is the result of a housing shortage, and fewer visitors staying with family and friends in second homes

There were 7,756.000 visitors in the summer of 2024. a drop of 9.1% from the previous year

Visitors who did come to Maine last summer spent more money per person on lodging, which led to a relatively small decrease direct tourism spending, -0.4% from 2023.

According to the report, 78% percent of visitors drove to Maine, with the largest share coming from New England, 29%, and Mid-Atlantic states, 22%.

Nearly half of visitors ate lobster in Maine last summer during their 2024 summer vacation, while 40% visited brew pubs or craft breweries, which was similar to 2023’s survey. And 45% enjoyed water activities, such as going to the southern Maine beaches, while 58% shopped during their visit.

One in three visitors last summer came to relax and unwind, while one in three came for sightseeing reasons. New York City and Boston has the largest share of visitors coming to Maine from large metro areas, while significant numbers also came from Washington-Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago.

The report tracked summer tourism in 2024 during the months of May through August.

Meanwhile, another study shows a 9 percent increase in winter tourism in the state, with many visitors coming from Boston and New York City.