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| Pennsylvania Tourism Office | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Pennsylvania Tourism Office |
| Formed | 1970s |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| Headquarters | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Chief1 position | Director |
| Parent agency | Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania Tourism Office The Pennsylvania Tourism Office is the official state tourism promotion entity for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It develops travel marketing, visitor services, and partnerships to attract domestic and international tourists to destinations such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Hershey, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg, and Valley Forge National Historical Park. The office works closely with state-level institutions like the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, cultural organizations such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, heritage sites including the Independence National Historical Park, and hospitality industry stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Hotel and Lodging Association.
The agency’s origins trace to mid-20th century tourism promotion efforts tied to events like the United States Bicentennial and the rise of regional commissions such as the Delaware River Port Authority. Early milestones included campaigns promoting destinations such as Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Pocono Mountains, Erie, Pennsylvania, and attractions like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. The office evolved through administrations of governors including William Scranton, Richard Thornburgh, Tom Ridge, Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett, and Tom Wolf, adapting to changes after crises like the September 11 attacks and economic shifts following the Great Recession of 2008–2009. It partnered with federal agencies such as the National Park Service for sites like Valley Forge National Historical Park and with nonprofit organizations like the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The office operates under the auspices of the Governor of Pennsylvania and coordinates with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, reporting through executive offices and liaising with state departments such as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for signage and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for agritourism. Leadership appointments have been influenced by gubernatorial transitions involving figures like Ed Rendell and Tom Wolf. The office maintains regional liaisons across congressional districts represented historically by members such as Chaka Fattah and Tim Murphy and works with municipal governments in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Scranton, Allentown, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Oversight intersects with state fiscal authorities such as the Pennsylvania General Assembly and budgetary processes involving the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.
Programming has included grant administration for events like the Philadelphia Flower Show, destination development initiatives in areas such as Lehigh Valley, heritage tourism routes like the Freedom Trail (Philadelphia), and support for festivals such as Kutztown Folk Festival. Initiatives have promoted sites including CHristian Science Reading Room—through partner organizations—and historic districts like Old City, Philadelphia and Washington Crossing Historic Park. The office runs certification or incentive programs connecting to institutions like the Smithsonian Institution for traveling exhibits and to trade shows such as International Pow Wow. It has funded signage projects tied to the Lincoln Highway and collaborated with cultural institutions such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, National Civil War Museum, and performing arts centers including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Marketing campaigns have featured partnerships with media outlets like Visit Philadelphia, national campaigns tied to Brand USA, and cooperative advertising with airlines serving Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport. The office has produced promotional content highlighting attractions such as Longwood Gardens, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland, and historical attractions like the Ephrata Cloister. It leverages events such as Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, Philadelphia Marathon, and cultural festivals like Greek Festival (Philadelphia) to drive seasonal visitation. Collaborations extend to organizations such as the U.S. Travel Association and trade partners at conventions like The National Confectioners Association meetings when promoting confectionery heritage in Hershey.
The office compiles metrics on visitor spending, room demand at properties represented by the Pennsylvania Hotel and Lodging Association, and tax revenue linked to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Economic impact analyses reference tourism employment figures across regions including Allegheny County, Philadelphia County, Bucks County, and Chester County. Studies cite contributions of attractions such as Gettysburg National Military Park and events like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally analogs to state receipts. The agency’s data inform legislative deliberations in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and budget forecasts coordinated with the Pennsylvania Governor’s Budget Office.
Partnerships extend to county tourism offices such as Visit Bucks County, Visit Pittsburgh, and Visit Philadelphia as well as regional development agencies like the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission. The office collaborates with academic institutions including Pennsylvania State University, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Temple University on research and workforce development. Local partnerships include work with nonprofit entities like the Lancaster County Convention Center and municipal convention bureaus in Hershey, Pennsylvania and Erie County, Pennsylvania.
The office has faced scrutiny over funding allocations debated within the Pennsylvania General Assembly and disputes involving promotional priorities between urban centers such as Philadelphia and legacy tourism regions like the Pocono Mountains. Criticisms have aligned with debates over public subsidy for events, transparency in grant awards reviewed by state auditors such as the Pennsylvania Auditor General, and the effectiveness of campaigns judged by stakeholders including the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association and destination marketing organizations like Visit Philadelphia.