BANGOR - New Brunswick's premier said his government wants to do more to promote cultural and economic ties between the province and Maine.

Shawn Graham made his remarks before a capacity crowd at the Governor's Conference on Tourism this morning at the Bangor Civic Center.

Graham was in Maine primarily to speak to the Legislature. But he made an early stop in Bangor to speak with business leaders and address more than 560 participants at the conference.

Graham said tourism generates $1.2 billion in annual revenue in New Brunswick, and that 22 percent of visitors are Americans. Tourism is part of New Brunswick's goal to become economically self-sufficient by 2026, and working with Maine to bring more visitors to the region is part of that equation.

He noted joint marketing efforts between Maine and New Brunswick to brand the area a "two-nation vacation."

In introducing Graham, Gov. John Baldacci said Mainers sometime so overlook the economic potential of a stronger partnership with New Brunswick. "In trying to focus on the south of us, he said, we've forgotten about the north of us."