10/08/2026
It has been a whirlwind of tourism-centric week already, and not just because of the leaf peepers scattered all over Downtown.
Yesterday, we hosted the Maine Tourism Association in our future Downtown Bangor Welcome Center at 33 State Street to celebrate the industry professionals that make Bangor an amazing destination. This morning the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce hosted Maine Office of Tourism as part of their Early Bird Breakfast series.
If you wonder whether Bangor is a tourist destination, you will be pleased to know that we are the second most visited municipality in the state. We have fantastic cultural and recreational assets which draw domestic, out-of-market visitors to our city. Last year, Downtown Bangor hosted over 1 million of these visitors, who stayed an average of 2.65 nights.
Domestic visitors to Downtown Bangor spent $5.3 million dollars in our small businesses. That number does not include spending on ticket sales for our entertainment venues like like Maine Savings Amphitheater, Cross Insurance Center and Penobscot Theatre.
Top out of State visitor locations include Boston, Burlington, New York, Philadelphia and DC, a fact made possible by convenient direct flights to Bangor International Airport.
Working with tourists and seeing their joy while exploring our city helps us fall in love with the place over and over again.
If you would like to help support our flourishing tourism environment, Maine Tourism Association offers a FREE online certificate Welcome ME Hospitality Training to help you put the community's best foot forward.
