Pa. Gov. Mark Schweiker today
announced that the new 2002 edition of the Pennsylvania Travel Planner now is
available, and the state`s experiencepa.com website has been redesigned and
re-launched, making it easier than ever to plan a Pennsylvania getaway.
 
“Pennsylvania`s new travel planner and upgraded travel website are great
reference tools that showcase the Keystone State`s rich history, vibrant
cities, scenic countryside, exciting cultural and recreational attractions,
and adventurous destinations,” Gov. Schweiker said.  “I invite travelers to
use our new planner and explore our redesigned website to plan their trip to
experience PA.  The leisure time you spend with us is sure to create `Memories
that last a Lifetime.`”
 
For the first time, experiencepa.com lists Pennsylvania travel packages
and details on how to purchase them.  Currently, there are more than 500
travel packages listed, and more packages will be added throughout the year.
 
The website also features information and activities regarding nature and
outdoors, arts and entertainment, historic places, accommodations and dining,
as well as a special section for kids.  With just a click on a map, the
traveler has the ability to search the website by Pennsylvania region.  Users
not only can choose which region they wish explore, they also can take a
virtual tour of the region.  The traveler also can print coupons offered by
paid advertisers right from the website.
 
The travel planner is a revision of the annual Visitors Guide.  The
353-page planner is available free-of-charge and highlights Pennsylvania
destinations in an easy-to-use format, including facts, regional contacts and
descriptions of attractions.
 
The travel planner also contains 36 activity sections that include a
comprehensive list, by region, of destinations and attractions pertaining to
that activity.  Pennsylvania`s eight tourism regions are color-coded so users
can see where each attraction is located within the state.
  The compact planner easily fits into car-door pockets.  It also features
unique bookmarks—small adhesive strips bound into the book for travelers to
mark pages for later reference.  In addition, travelers can mark their
favorite destinations and activities with enclosed bookmarks.
 
Other special features include personal calendar pages, a year-long events
guide and a Pennsylvania Recreational Guide and Highway Map.  The Pennsylvania
Recreational Guide and Highway Map highlights state parks and other historical
locations throughout the state, making it the perfect companion to the travel
planner.  Users can follow the highlighted suggestions or fill in their own
special reminders and events on the calendar.
 
The production was coordinated by
the Department of Community and Economic Development planner along with several of the state`s tourism-related
organizations.
“When people visit our Commonwealth, they discover our historic treasures,
natural beauty, and unparalleled quality of life,” Gov. Schweiker said.  “They
also contribute significantly to our state`s economy.  The travel and tourism
industry is a leading creator of jobs and a major economic resource in
Pennsylvania.”
 
Tourism is Pennsylvania`s second-largest industry.  Travelers spent
$26.08 billion in 1999, an increase of 7.8 percent since 1997.  In 1999 there
were 468,081 jobs, generating more than $8.8 billion in wages directly
attributed to tourism, and more than $3.6 billion generated in federal, state
and local taxes.  Pennsylvania is the fifth most visited state in the country,
accounting for 4.6 percent of all leisure travel in the country, and
3.9 percent of all business travel.

www.experiencepa.com

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