Stern Champions Tourism Industry in Pennsylvania
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| At a tourism rally at the state Capitol on April 30, Rep. Jerry Stern, chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, joined industry representatives and characters from various tourist attractions across the state to support the advancement of the state’s No. 2 industry. |
HARRISBURG – Promoting the state’s second largest industry and one of the Commonwealth’s biggest revenue generators, Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair) today garnered House passage of his resolution designating April 30, 2012, as “Tourism Day” and the week of May 5-13, 2012, as “National Travel and Tourism Week” in Pennsylvania. He also participated in a rally at the state Capitol supporting the industry.
“With the amount of revenue tourism brings into the state, it has proven to be an essential element to our economic recovery,” said Stern. “Many small businesses are involved in the tourism industry, and the hotels, restaurants and attractions they run constitute an important and vital segment of local economies across the state.”
Stern noted that tourism supports more than 452,000 jobs and generates $36 billion in economic impact from the 172 million annual visitors.
A rally held at the state Capitol today highlighted the important role of tourism as a revenue generator and job creator. Stern, who serves as chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, was one of the event’s featured speakers.
“Today was a lot of fun, but it also highlights the very important role of tourism to our state,” said Stern. “Tourism showcases all Pennsylvania has to offer while providing money and jobs for the residents of the Keystone State. We need to celebrate this great industry and capitalize on the still-untapped potential tourism has for the future of Pennsylvania.”
Stern is working to boost tourism dollars through a private-public partnership that would put the state’s tourism branding and marketing in the hands of professionals with the expertise and the ability to draw even more dollars from one of our top-producing industries.
House Bill 2056 would essentially move the state’s tourism office from the Department of Community and Economic Development and instead create its own independent state agency called the Pennsylvania Tourism Commission. The agency would be headed by a board composed of industry leaders, including representatives of local tourism promotion agencies and professionals with at least a decade of marketing or advertising experience.
“Tourism is a proven revenue and job generator,” said Stern. “The key now is to take what we have to the next level and draw even more visitors to our great state.”
House Bill 2056, which was created with the input of the tourism and marketing industry, already has the bipartisan support of 54 House members.
State Representative Jerry Stern
80th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
tlehman@pahousegop.com
717.772.9840