MOOSIC, Pa. — Gov. Josh Shapiro came to Lackawanna County on Monday to announce a new state tourism brand and summer travel marketing campaign to encourage more people to travel across and visit the state – Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway.
"My new budget calls for an $18 million increase for tourism and business marketing. This new brand and funding will help us grow small businesses, support our communities, and create opportunity for more Pennsylvanians," Gov. Shapiro said.
The announcement at PNC Field in Moosic featured a new tourism video to showcase the state's recreational opportunities, narrated by Pennsylvania native and Broad City star Abbi Jacobson, who will be the voice of the campaign's summer ads.
According to the governor's office, tourism makes up $77 billion in the state's economy, and the governor wants to invest another $18 million.
The home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in Moosic was the first stop for Shapiro as he kicked off the summer by making his way across the state in an RV.
"At times, I'll be traveling with the first lady and our four children. That's right, you're going to learn about family dynamics in the Shapiro family when we board that RV."
The governor will be making 50 stops in 14 counties over the next seven days in his Great American Getaway tour, starting in Lackawanna County, enjoying all it has to offer.
"Here in Pennsylvania, we have it all – from top-tier sports and events, award-winning restaurants, incredible hikes, and state parks, and the most important historic sites in the country that tell the story of our shared history. More people deserve the chance to come here and experience the magic of Pennsylvania for themselves," said Shapiro.
"Steamtown, the Anthracite Museum, Everhart Museum, the Coal Mine Tour, these things jump out of you. But it also includes things like 'The Office' and the reputation we have in Scranton and Lackawanna County. We have people coming from all over the country," said Robert Durkin, head of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
This tour is part of the governor's budget that proposes a 60 percent boost to tourism and business across the state.
"Here in Lackawanna County alone, tourism supports 5,000 jobs. And in 2022, visitors have spent nearly $800 million here in the Commonwealth on tourism," Shapiro said.
Durkin says it's not only important to bring in people to visit from all over, but to build it up for those who live here, too.
"Let's make this area great for our own residents. Let's make it best for us. And if we do that, in terms of the quality of the experience, people are going to come here," Durkin said.
The governor was joined by Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger.
The governor was welcomed by Katie Beekman, general manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and Curt Camoni, executive director of the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau.
Watch the full announcement from PNC Field in Moosic: