FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Louise Heine
Destination Marketing Director
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 109 or louise@yorkpa.org

Brent Burkey
Communications Specialist
York County Convention & Visitors Bureau
717-852-9675, ext. 103 or bburkey@yorkpa.org


YORK, PA- Annual visitor spending has surpassed the $900-million mark in York County, creating a tourism economy that provides tax relief to York County residents of more than $90 million and supports the jobs of 7,534 people in our local community, according to the yearly Economic Impact of Tourism in Pennsylvania.

The $907 million in travel spending recorded in the report for 2013 ranks York County third in Pennsylvania's nine-county Dutch Country Roads Region - actually well ahead of neighboring Adams County - and represents a strong increase from the previous year's visitor spending of approximately $885 million.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania releases this annual report around the beginning of each year, and the data represent the most recently available numbers on York County tourism and how the figures compare to other destinations across the state.

"York County does not have a globally famous battlefield or a large and well-known amusement park, so the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's diligent work to link our engaging attractions into visitor trails and market numerous sports facilities as one cohesive and attractive offering is instrumental to our success as a travel destination," said Anne Druck, President of the York County CVB.

"We are committed to maintaining and growing visitor spending, with the help of key partners, through strategic marketing and leveraging all available assets. Reports such as this one reinforce the importance of our work and the strengths of our tactics on behalf of the York County community," Druck added.

Reflecting the diversity of our trail offerings and the massive potential of outdoor recreational opportunities, including in eastern York County's lower Susquehanna River corridor, 2015 is the year we are encouraging our visitors to truly Explore York.

Explore York, an ongoing tourism marketing campaign of the York County CVB with new emphasis this year, seeks to connect the dots and get visitors to cross over and, for example, sample the Susquehanna Ale Trail when they come for the tours here in the Factory Tour Capital of the World, or to pair a stroll through the unique shops of Downtown York with sipping fine wine on the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail.

The York County CVB's decision to embark on the Explore York campaign in 2015 was reinforced recently by initial results of a tourism market study which indicated visitors want to know more about the diversity of our attractions and offerings prior to coming to York County.

"Our goal is to take this moment of discovery visitors have in our destination and make it happen earlier - at the point where travelers are planning their getaways," said Louise Heine, Destination Marketing Director. "We want them to plan on spending an extra day or more in York County, PA, which is a win-win for everyone."

The York County CVB and the county's tourism industry are committed to making sure the impacts of our efforts do not go unnoticed. On Monday, March 2, the CVB will lead our stakeholders to Harrisburg for a rally in the State Capitol where we will reinforce the importance of our industry before state leaders who make many decisions with bearing on tourism efforts in York County. Further details will be available closer to the time of the event.

The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau's Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. The York County CVB's Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.