ACADIA NATIONAL PARK – The number of visitors to the park is down 10 percent, compared with last year, through the end of September. July recorded the biggest year-to-year monthly decline, with July 2004 registering 14 percent fewer visitors than July 2003.

Fog and rain were blamed for much of the depressed park activity in July, according to Charlie Jacobi, a resource management specialist at the park.

Other factors also have contributed to a sluggish tourism season this year, Jacobi and others said, including record high gas prices, lingering terrorism fears, a sluggish economy, the war in Iraq and uncertainty over who will be elected president Nov 2.

According to preliminary figures, visits to Acadia in June fell just 1.3 percent, followed by the 14 percent decline in July and an 11.8 percent drop in August.

September visitorship is down 5 percent, Jacobi said.

The year-to-date figures show total visits at 1.9 million, down from 2.1 million through September 2003.

Acadia has been one of the top 10 most popular national parks in a system that includes nearly 400 sites.

According to the National Park Service, visitorship at Acadia topped out 2.8 million in 1995. Since 2000, visits have stabilized at 2.4 million or 2.5 million a year.