Pennsylvania Unveils New Tourism Brand
May 21, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Laura Herrington, Executive Director
Indiana County Tourist Bureau
724-463-7505
Pennsylvania Unveils New Tourism Brand
Indiana, PA — On Monday, May 20, Governor Josh Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger unveiled Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway.
“What a great way to kick-off National Travel and Tourism Week with an exciting announcement from Governor Josh Shapiro and his team,” shared Laura Herrington, Executive Director of the Indiana County Tourist Bureau. Herrington joined her colleagues from across the Commonwealth to attend the event at PNC Field in Moosic for the launch of the new tourism brand and summer travel marketing campaign.
As indicated in the Governor’s press release, tourism is a key priority within the Governor’s economic development strategy. A new report unveiled by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office in March shows Pennsylvania’s tourism industry generated $76.7 billion in economic impact, supported 486,871 jobs, contributed $4.7 billion in state and local taxes, and welcomed 192.4 million visitors in 2022. Visitor spending – which supports jobs, income, and business sales – generated $9.6 billion in government revenues. Overnight visitor spending increased by $4.8 billion, with more than 66 million trips resulting in $28 billion in spending.
“Here in Pennsylvania, we have it all – from top tier sports and events, award-winning restaurants, incredible hikes and state parks, and the most important historic sites in the country that tell the story of our shared history. More people deserve the chance to come here and experience the magic of Pennsylvania for themselves,” said Governor Josh Shapiro, in his press release. “72 million people live within a four-hour drive of Pennsylvania – and once you’re here, you’ll find there’s something for every member of the family. Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway, and my Administration is making tourism a top priority for the first time in more than a decade – it is a central part of our economic development strategy and my new budget calls for an $18 million increase for tourism and business marketing. This new brand and funding will help us grow small businesses, support our communities, and create opportunity for more Pennsylvanians.”
Herrington says that she couldn’t agree more adding, “Indiana County’s travel & tourism industry fuels our local economy. The facts provided in the 2024 Tourism Economics report reflect 2022 data, which indicates a total annual visitor demand of $174.4 million and 2,324 local jobs supported by the industry. Additionally, household taxes would be $880 higher in Pennsylvania without tourism related spending.”
The Governor’s proposed investment has received much support from key leaders within the industry including Joe Massaro, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, Representative Donna Oberlander, Republican Chairman of the Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development Committee and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) from across the commonwealth.
“The Governor’s commitment to tourism and new initiatives of the PA Tourism Office, will prove beneficial to all regions of the state, especially Indiana County,” expressed Herrington. “We have so much to offer visitors, from our beautiful county parks & trails, state park, historic sites and museums, to abundant arts & culture and fairs & festivals. All this and more, when added to our small-town hospitality and charm, allows Indiana County to offer exactly what the new initiatives will be promoting,” Herrington stated.
You can learn more about Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy, the first of its kind in nearly two decades, which prioritizes the tourism industry and adopts a new marketing strategy to showcase all that the Commonwealth has to offer. Led by DCED’s Tourism and Business Marketing offices, the new marketing strategy will showcase how Pennsylvania’s iconic attractions and hidden gems support the state’s economy and creates jobs for local businesses, all while improving residents’ quality of life.
The Indiana County Tourist Bureau is looking forward to new opportunities to collaborate with the PA Tourism office to promote Indiana County and our communities as a destination for a “Great American Getaway.”
