Soaring gas prices and rainy weather appear to be taking a bite out tourism in Northern New England.
One indicator of a tourism slump is a drop in revenues collected in New Hampshire from its tax on restaurant meals and hotel rooms.
State officials say New Hampshire collected about $300,000 less last month than the same time a year ago. The news was worse in June when revenues were $2 million less than the previous June.
The rain also could be a factor. It rained 16 days in July, including five out of 10 weekend days. And it rained 17 days in June.
Another tourism indicator – traffic – also hasn’t been the same this year. The state says in July, traffic was about 7 percent less than the same month last year.