Ridership numbers drop by 20% on Yarmouth-Bar Harbor ferry
Drop from last year is due to Canadians not travelling as often to U.S.
The CAT has seen about a 20 per cent decrease in ridership weeks into the 2025 season.
The ferry that travels between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Maine, had 19,308 passengers as of June 12. That's down from 24,285 last year.
In a press release Friday, Mark Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Bay Ferries Limited, said the service is trending close to last year when it comes to Americans taking the ferry to Nova Scotia.
"Statistics Canada has reported a significant decrease in Canadian resident return trips to Canada by car and that trend is holding true for Canadian bookings on The CAT," said Wilson.
Last year, the Nova Scotia government extended the seasonal ferry service into the 2026 season. It budgeted $21 million for the service in 2024.
The sailing season began on May 15, operating five days per week until June 18. Daily service begins June 19 to Sept. 22.