Updated tourism numbers show increased visitation to Lehigh Valley
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. – With National Tourism Week running May 7 - 15, Discover Lehigh Valley has released updated tourism numbers in specialized infographics that highlight the importance of the industry to the local economy in a fun, new way.
State tourism numbers from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) 2012 Annual Economic Impact Report have been announced, and according to that study, visitors to Lehigh Valley spent $1.9 billion and the industry employed more than 22,500 people. Travel and tourism generated $373 million in tax revenues.
Of the $1.9 billion spent on tourism in Lehigh Valley, 28 percent went to transportation, 21 percent on food and beverage, 17 percent on shopping, 10 percent on lodging and 24 percent on recreation, the largest in the state.
These numbers have been re-envisioned in brightly colored hi-resolution infographics that show the importance of tourism with locally recognizable and relatable items. A few examples of these are as follows:
- Travel and tourism jobs provided nearly $817 million in earnings, or enough money to buy 27,242,414 annual passes to the Crayola Experience™
- Visitors occupy 3,600 hotel rooms nightly. That’s the equivalent of filling the State Theatre Center for the Arts 2.5 times every night.
- 10.6 million people took day trips to Lehigh Valley. That’s like filling Coca-Cola Park in Allentown 1,049 times.
- Lehigh Valley is Pennsylvania’s third largest Designated Market Area (DMA) with more than 825,000 people. That’s enough people to fill Musikfest’s Main Stage 115 times.
We are encouraging media outlets to share and publish the infographics as a way to better relate the importance and impact of tourism in Lehigh Valley through National Tourism Week.
“This study clearly indicates that tourism is vital to our local economy and its impact will only increase as Lehigh Valley adds more entertainment and sports options,” said Discover Lehigh Valley President Michael Stershic. “These fun infographics are a way to tell the story of tourism impact in a vibrant and relatable way. I’d expect these numbers to trend upward in 2013-14 and beyond.”
Download the infographic in this versions: Hi-Res JPG Vertical / Hi-Res JPG Horizontal / Hi-Res PDF Vertical / Hi-Res PDF Horizontal
About Discover Lehigh Valley
Discover Lehigh Valley is the designated destination marketing organization (DMO) of Lehigh and Northampton counties. Its mission is to promote and develop Lehigh Valley as a leisure and business travel destination. Created in 1984, Discover Lehigh Valley assists in promoting regional tourism, an industry that generates $1.9 billion in annual revenue and accounts for more than 22,500 jobs in Lehigh Valley. For more information on Discover Lehigh Valley and its activities or to request a Lehigh Valley Official Visitors Guide, call (800) MEET-HERE, or visit the official tourism website of Lehigh Valley at DiscoverLehighValley.com.
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Media Contact:
George Wacker, Communications Manager
610-882-9200