The Maine Legislature has passed a bill that permits the approximately $4.5M remaining in the state's Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund from last year to be reserved for tourism promotion this year instead of being moved to the General Fund.

The Promotion Fund receives 5% of the revenues from the state's 7% meals and lodging tax - an amount that is expected to be down by about $2M this year because of travel restrictions related to COVID-19.

The $4.5M carryover will enable the Office of Tourism to promote Maine tourism at a pre-pandemic level this year.