MAINE PUBLIC • January 1, 2022
Acadia National Park saw a record four million estimated visits in 2021 - a half-million more than in any other year. Park advocates said systems were strained, sometimes beyond breaking, and they're raising alarms about what the future may hold. David MacDonald, president of the friends of Acadia, said park managers and stakeholders have some tactics to deploy in future years, including reservation requirements for other high-traffic areas. He also noted that in 2021, almost all visitors were domestic, with the cruise ship industry shut down and international travel restricted. A citizens group in Bar Harbor said it will mount a new campaign to restrict cruise ship visits in 2022.