Northern Maine is hoping an increase in tourism will help business in 2008.

Mike Eisensmith, the director of the economic development division of the Northern Maine Development Commission, expects to see some downturns in forestry and agriculture, which he calls the region's "legacy industries."

Lately, Eisensmith has been focused on developing tourism in the region.

"We believe we have some natural assets that have not been really communicated to people," he said."

Eisensmith believes the tourists are out there, but what's missing is the infrastructure to make it easy for them to come. For example, tourists looking to make Internet reservations at motels may be out of luck.

"We are looking at developing a Web-based reservation system for lodging in the area," Eisensmith said.

A similar network will soon be in place for the region's snowmobile industry. Working with snowmobile clubs, the Northern Maine Development Commission used GPS devices to mark all the snowmobile trails in the region.

One project that could change the region's tourism landscape is Plum Creek Timber Co.'s plan to create 975 house lots and two resorts in the Moosehead Lake region, while preserving 400,000 acres through conservation agreements.

To the south, the Bangor region has some projects that Candace Guerette, director of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, expects also will draw visitors in 2008.

Chief among them is Hollywood Slots, said Guerette. The casino now operates 475 slot machines but will move into a permanent home later this year.

one that will feature 1,000 machines.

The slots has already led to more tourist visitors, Guerette said, including visitors from southern Maine, traditionally outside of Bangor's market.

A couple new hotels are also in the works, and the region will begin planning for a new civic center this year, said Guerette.

There are some non-tourism related projects as well. Maine-based Cianbro corporation plans to open a new factory in nearby Brewer, where it will manufacture building modules on the site of the former Eastern Fine Paper Co. The factory will likely open in spring, and will employ about 500 workers. The modules will be shipped worldwide, and Cianbro already has a contract to build modules for a Texas refinery.

"You're seeing some strong economic development," Guerette said. "Brewer and Bangor have a lot going on."

News Assistant Isaac Kestenbaum can be contacted at 791-6308 or at:

ikestenbaum@pressherald.com