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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 JA N UA R Y 1 0 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S 2 0 2 2 E C O N O M I C O U T L O O K "e national trend seems to indi- cate that travelers will continue seeking safe destinations with plenty of out- door opportunities, so I expect visitor demand to be high for our summer and fall seasons once again," he says. Anderson says he expects strong tourism business in Bar Harbor and for Mount Desert Island from spring through late fall. A key factor driving that trend remains the pandemic. "Bar Harbor and MDI have remained safe, relative to other parts of the country, throughout the pandemic," Anderson says. "I expect travelers will continue to be drawn here for that rea- son, coupled with the fact that we also have Acadia National Park and all its outdoor activities to offer." Top challenges are worker and worker-housing shortages. ey're not new issues, but they were pushed to crisis levels by the pandemic. Many seasonal businesses rely on foreign workers, who were in short sup- ply in 2021. at meant businesses had to limit hours of operation and leave poten- tial revenue on the table, he says. e housing shortage is particularly challenging for year-round businesses like the Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island Hospital, he said, because potential hires can't find affordable family housing. But Anderson is optimistic that, as international borders reopen, foreign workers will be able to make it to Bar Harbor for 2022. And there are some exciting housing developments underway that could help alleviate pressure on the market for rentals and single-family homes. "Overall, I'm optimistic about 2022 for the Bar Harbor business community," he says. "We know that the number of visitors will be high, so our tourism busi- nesses can continue to rebound from the up and down years they've just experi- enced. Our community will also be work- ing to address the major challenges of workforce housing and the labor shortage, which are the key impediments to year- round economic development." Drummond Woodsum Strategic Consulting provides representation that dramatically impacts public opinion and public policy. Services that make a difference: • Federal and State Government Relations • Public Affairs • Crisis Communications • Campaign Management • Coalition & Grassroots Organizing • Organizational Development See how our full service capabilities can help your organization: 800.727.1941 | dwstrategicconsulting.com Toby McGrath Vivian Mikhail Mark Gallagher Ben Gilman Adam Cote From Town Offices to State Houses to the White House S PONS OR ED BY Sometimes a negative experience can be turned into positive opportunities. Hear how Maine business leaders weathered stormy times and found long-term success. that Changed Everything The Day INSPIRING STORIES OF RECOVERY AND INNOVATION LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY! MAINEBIZ.BIZ/PODCASTS podcasts R E C E N T E P I S O D E S E P I S O D E 3 6 Travis Mills RETIRED U.S. ARMY STAFF SERGEANT FOUNDER, TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION E P I S O D E 3 7 Amy VanHaren FOUNDER AND CEO OF PUMPSPOTTING E P I S O D E 3 8 Diane Atwood FOUNDER OF CATCHING YOUR MEMORIES E P I S O D E 3 9 Year End Show THE MAINEBIZ PODCAST TEAM P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F B A R H A R BO R C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E Alf Anderson, executive director of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce

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