APRIL 2003
Great Outdoors Travel Overview
According to the most recent findings prepared by D.K. Shifflet & Associates, Ltd. and released by Pennsylvania Tourism, Film and Economic Development Marketing Dept. there were 1.2 million overnight leisure trips to the Great Outdoors Region in 2001, an 8% increase from 2000. The study states that visitors to the Great Outdoors region were slightly younger and less affluent than in 2001.
- Families accounted for almost half of the region's visitors. Stays in the Great Outdoors Region were of the longest length in the 14 regions covered in PA -- up significantly from 2000. The study also said, "As reflected in its name, outdoor activities were by far the main activities enjoyed by visitors to the Great Outdoors region. The region's satisfaction and value ratings were among the highest of the 14 regions."
- The Great Outdoors region attracts a higher percentage of younger travelers than the state as a whole. Fifty percent of visitors to the region in 2001 were in the 18 to 34 year old age group (second only to the Allegheny National Forest Region, McKean and Warren Counties) while 34% of visitors were in the 35 to 54 year age category (well below the statewide average).
- In 2001, families accounted for 49% of the region's travel parties -- up 4 percentage points from 2000, while couples dropped 13 percentage points to 13%, which in turn is down from 36% in 1999.
- Visiting friends and relatives (34%) was the main reason for travel to the Great Outdoors region, well below the statewide average of 43%. General Vacations (32%) and Getaway Weekends (12%) together accounted for 35% of travel, and attending Special Events for an additional 23%.
- The region had the highest participation rates in most outdoor activities: hunting/fishing (27%), parks (24%), and bird/wildlife watching (18%), and ranked second behind Lehigh Valley in camping (13%).
- The average household income of visitors decreased from $61,100 to $49,600 in 2001.
- The overall satisfaction rating rose from 7.0 to 7.7 in 2001 and the value rating rose from 7.6 to 8.1 – the highest among the 14 regions.
For more and in-depth information: PowerPoint presentations created by D.K. Shifflet and presented at the P.A.C.V.B. 2002 Fall Workshop are available online via the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)'s website...Find tourism statistics there as well. Please remember that information via the Internet is copyrighted information.
http://media.experiencepa.com/statistics.aspx
The Media Center's FAQs (statistical data)
http://media.experiencepa.com/statistics.aspx?site=&stats=faq
Advertising/Marketing agency win awards for NPGO work
 Northwest Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau's advertising/marketing agency, Lechner & Benson of Erie received three awards for their work on the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Elk Expo designs at the 33rd Annual ADDY Awards presentation in Erie, April 4. The Erie Advertising Club received more than 426 entries. Judges selected the winners of 46 gold, 80 silver and 143 bronze awards. Bill Lechner and Chuck Benson received a gold award for the Elk Expo logo illustration, a gold award for the Elk Expo poster design and a silver award for their design of the Elk Expo Sponsor Party invitation. They also received two additional awards for other projects not related with NPGO. NPGO Director Dave Morris and Special Projects Director/ Elk Expo Coordinator Joni Sadley attended the awards celebration in Erie.
The "Got Elk" logo design was a tremendous success at the 2002 Elk Expo held in St. Marys, Elk County. The three-day event drew in excess of 40,00 people to the area. While plans for the 2003 Elk Expo have not yet been finalized, the event will take place September 27 and 28th. More information can be obtained at a later date at www.elkexpo.com and www.visitpago.com.
Article also appears in our Press Room Section:
Rendell Administration Deputy Secretary for Tourism, Film and Economic-Development Marketing
James A. (Mickey) Rowley was named Deputy Secretary for Tourism, Film and Economic- Development Marketing within DCED in early April. As Deputy Secretary, Rowley will serve as the Secretary's top representative to the travel and tourism industry. Rowley will oversee the daily administration and operations of the Pennsylvania Tourism, Film and Economic-Development Marketing Office and promote business and consumer travel in the Commonwealth. Rowley has served as Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for five years, during which he has helped secure permanent tourism and marketing funding through hotel tax legislation in Philadelphia. He also served as director of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and was an advisor to the Philadelphia Film Society.
The Tourism, Film and Economic-Development Marketing office within DCED is comprised of strategic marketing, domestic and international tourism, and also offers two funding programs to promote tourism within the Commonwealth. Tourism is Pennsylvania's second-largest industry.
Great Outdoors will attend 2003 Tourism Day at Harrisburg
On Tuesday, May 6, 2003, Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau will celebrate the 2003 Tourism Day at the State Capitol with other tourism agencies across the state. A trade show involving state government agencies, tourism industry trade associations and tourist promotion agencies will be part of the day’s activities. We will also be meeting one-on-one with our legislators during the day to discuss with them tourism issues affecting our region.
Interactive Touch Screen Travel Information Kiosks up and running
 Beginning in February, the first kiosk units were installed around the 9-county region. Despite limited advertising to this point, we are pleased with the usage they are receiving already. To date, nine of the 12 units are up and running with two more expected within the week. We are able to track properties, pages and the frequency of visits from each unit. Reports from February and March show there were more than 3,400 inquiries for various information on the kiosks; the number one attraction visited was the elk herd, followed by Punxsutawney Phil, ATV trail riding then Cook Forest State Park.
We have spent countless hours reviewing the data in an effort to have the most accurate, complete information on these units. Please stop by one of the units, to check out your information. If you see incorrect data, please contact Joni Sadley or Carla Wehler to have it corrected.
Locations running are:
- Allegheny National Forest Headquarters, Warren,
- PennDOT Rest Stop (east and west), Reynoldsville
- Snappy's I-80 Exit 120, Clearfield
- Uni-Mart, Marienville
- ANF Ranger Station, Bradford
- King's Family Restaurant, I-80 Exit 29, Barkeyville.
Related article in Membership Info Section:
Brochures needed
One of our member benefits includes the distribution of your brochures in our brochure rack program. We have 35 locations across the Interstate and within our six counties where we regularly stock brochure racks with our members’ brochures. Do we have a supply of your brochures? We need a supply of 2,000-4,000 of each brochure. If possible, please band the in packs of 50-100 and mark the outside of the box with the number of brochures in each box.
Packages sell
Seventy-nine percent of travelers are looking for all-inclusive package vacations, according to studies. As we continue to update our package program, please make sure we have any packages you may already have. We will see they are marketed through advertising, the kiosks, on our website, as well as the state's tourism website.Mail your packages or Call Carla Wehler or Joni Sadley with your packages.814-834-3723, joni@visitpago.com
See also:
How To Reach Us
NW Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau
175 Main Street
Brookville, PA 15825
814-849-5197
Toll Free: 800-348-9393
Fax: 814-849-1969
Website: www.visitpago.com
E-mail: info@visitpago.com
Dave Morris, Executive Director
Ext. 22, dave@visitpago.com
Donna McFadden, Office Manager
Ext. 21, donnalee@visitpago.com
Carla Wehler, Membership Services/Sales Director
814-834-1267, carla@visitpago.com
Joni Sadley, Special Projects Director
814-834-3723, joni@visitpago.com
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