Among the many good ideas being tossed into the mix by the 11 partisan candidates for governor is Matt Jacobson’s suggestion that Maine work to grow its cruise ship visitation. Mr. Jacobson, the Republican candidate who is CEO of the business development firm Maine & Company, argues that instead of the 200 “ship calls” Maine sees each year, the state could increase that number to something closer to its potential of 1,500 annual port calls.
The idea is important in that it provides a way to expand tourism, Maine’s top business sector. But as conceived by Mr. Jacobson, it also provides a way to spin off growth and employment into other economic sectors. That sort of coordinated approach to economic development, creating synergy among disparate elements, represents the kind of fresh thinking that can help Maine grow.
Ships that visit the Maine coast range from the large oceangoing liners that anchor in Portland and Bar Harbor to the smaller coastal cruisers that stop in places like Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, Camden, Belfast and Bangor. Those smaller vessels actually are more lucrative for Maine communities; surveys reveal that coastal cruise passengers spend more at each port of call than their ocean liner counterparts.
Currently, Maine spends about $65,000 through its Maine Port Authority to land those 200 annual ship visits, Mr. Jacobson said. He suggests that increasing the promotion budget might pay off exponentially.
But beyond just increasing cruise ship visits, Mr. Jacobson envisions that tourism segment as the hub from which other spokes radiate. He suggests that with the increased ship visits, Maine Maritime Academy in Castine might develop a partnership with the industry so that it trains many of the officers and crew for those ships. That would mean tailoring a curriculum to the industry, which will cost some money, but it’s a low-risk investment.
A partnership also could be developed between the cruise ship industry and Maine shipyards, so those Maine businesses are able to get a portion of the ship repair work. Maine also could provide back-office support, such as booking reservations and other services. Mr. Jacobson also suggests Maine could work to provision those ships with Maine products, such as lobster, blueberries, maple syrup, microbrews and so on.
This sort of creative yet pragmatic thinking is what Maine needs in its economic development strategy. It is not pie-in-the-sky, but rather builds on an existing strength — the beauty and appeal of Maine’s coast. It also ties a part of the state’s heritage, seafaring commerce, with newer business models.
Whoever ends up as Maine’s next governor should feel free to steal the best ideas being offered up this campaign season, and this is one of them.