A Deadly Shark Attack, Fights with Neighbors, and Fast-Approaching Fall—Can Maine Salvage the Summer? - The Daily Beast

Not only did Governor Janet Mills clash with the state’s Republican Party about easing COVID-19 restrictions on out-of-state visitors, but the state also experienced its first fatal shark attack in recorded history?

It’s been a brutal year, especially for the state’s tourism and hospitality industry, but the events of the last few days alone beg the question: can the hotels, restaurants and small businesses that shape “Vacationland” as we know it survive the summer of 2020.

On the state’s official website on July 27, Governor Mills posted a statement against a Republican initiative to ease quarantine restrictions on visitors from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

At the moment, visitors from Massachusetts and Rhode Island seeking to enter Maine must either self-quarantine for 14 days or provide documentation of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of entry into the state—something not required of visitors from New Hampshire, Vermont, or the tri-state area.

He hopes that the Massachusetts and Rhode Island restrictions can be eased in time for the town of Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude, the two weekends following Thanksgiving, which is historically his hotels’ highest grossing weekend of the year.

It seems like every year we have something, whether it’s a bad algae, die-off from the winter ice… To be honest, we got a little PPP money this year and it felt like a huge break for once.”.

While there have been fewer visitors from Massachusetts, the property has experienced a “strong increase among New York and tri-state” visitors.

It’s been such a popular summer for the property, that not even the shark attack has deterred guests

Indeed, last week’s shark attack was a relative blip in a year of rare and unexpected accidents