Governor Josh Shapiro embarks on a family RV trip for tourism campaign

The Center Square: Gov. Josh Shapiro launched a family RV trip on Monday to promote Pennsylvania’s new tourism brand, pushing for a significant funding boost. Speaking in Moosic, Shapiro proposed an $18 million budget increase to market Pennsylvania as “The Great American Getaway.”

“There is no partisanship when it comes to selling the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. He emphasized the region's tourism and economic potential. The campaign features a video narrated by Pennsylvania native Abbi Jacobson, promoting the state across Pennsylvania and New York this summer.

Shapiro and his family will travel around the state, making 50 stops in 14 counties. “We are poised to do great things in Pennsylvania and investing in tourism is going to help us accomplish that,” he said. Shapiro highlighted tourism as a key part of his administration's economic development strategy.

Shapiro noted that Pennsylvania invests less in tourism compared to New York, Michigan, and Illinois. The $18 million increase would be a 60% boost, aiming to attract visitors from the 72 million Americans living within a four-hour drive of Pennsylvania.

Joe Massaro, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, supported the initiative. He cited a study from Oxford Economics, revealing over $15 billion in missed visitor spending and tax revenue due to inadequate marketing.

The state’s tourism site offers guides for various parts of Pennsylvania. Efforts also include the new Office of Outdoor Recreation, which invested $200,000 in an Outdoor Business Alliance. “You'll find something here for everyone; that is why Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway,” Shapiro said.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_af864ea4-16ca-11ef-94fb-1b16cf88ce7c.html