ME Gov. Janet Mills announced yesterday that residents of Massachusetts will be able to visit Maine - and residents of Maine will be able to re-enter the state after visiting Massachusetts - without being required to quarantine for 14 days or present a negative COVID-19 test result.

MA thus joins NH, VT, CT, NY and NJ on the short list of states visitors from which are exempt from Maine's COVID-19-fighting restrictions on visitors.

Gov. Mills said:

“Protecting the health and safety of Maine people has always been our first and foremost goal. We congratulate our friends to the south on their progress in mitigating the spread of the virus and ask them to continue to take all the appropriate precautions, as we know they will, to protect their health and safety and that of Maine people.”

Gov. Mills continues to recommend strongly that persons entering Maine from exempt states be tested before coming. Also anyone - including visitors - can now get tested in Maine without an order from a health care provider. Go here for a list of Maine testing sites.

Regarding tourism, Maine DECD Commissioner Heather Johnson said:

“Massachusetts visitors play a key role in our tourism economy. We are hopeful for a strong fall tourism season as well as a robust ski season, and we are looking forward to Massachusetts residents being able to safely visit Maine.”

With regard to fall, Labor Day to Columbus Day (excuse me, "Indigenous Peoples Day") is traditionally the time of year when well-heeled empty-nesters from neighboring states visit Maine to enjoy fewer crowds and lower shoulder-season prices. Will that happen this year? Recent research is consistent in finding that rural and coastal areas - particularly drive destinations - have a clear edge in drawing tourists right now. Let's hope that will be the case.

And skiing in Maine will look different this year. Changes posted on the Sunday River website include:

• Masks required in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, including on lifts
• Top-to-bottom skiing, no lift downloading
• Initially open to passholders only
• Reduced lift capacity
• No bag storage for daytrippers
• Time in base lodges limited to 30 minutes
• Restaurant seating limited to 50 per room, no standing
• Youth Lodge closed
• No large gatherings
• No daycare

What other changes to tourism will evolve as we go along? Watch this space.