"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
- T.S. Eliot
Happy New Year Friends! The new year is a time for new beginnings. A time of promise and hope. A time to grow and expand our horizons. At the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, we're working on those things and we've got reason to believe we're headed in the right direction.
Throughout the winter months, the visitors bureau is laying the groundwork for a fantastic tourism year for our community by investing time, effort, resources and energy into enhancing benefits for our members. We are also working diligently to form partnerships and collaborative efforts in Schuylkill County and throughout our region.
I say this over and over again, but it bears repeating, often. Tourism ranks as the second largest industry in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania is the seventh most visited state in the nation. Tourism is also the second largest industry in Schuylkill County with agriculture ranked first. The tourism industry generates $12.8 billion in wages and benefits annually, and accounts for almost 10 percent of all individuals employed in Pennsylvania.
Visitor spending in Schuylkill County for 2012 totaled $195.7 million, which included lodging, food and beverage, shopping, recreation and transportation sales and is up a whopping 9 percent from 2011.
That's huge, folks. Absolutely huge when compared to the slow growth we've seen in the overall United States and state economies as well as other sectors of these economies over the last five years.
Tourism in Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County has steadily grown for four years and is expected to continue to grow in 2014. As I stated previously, tourism industry spending in Schuylkill County totaled $195.7 million for 2012. This accounted for 1,277 jobs (up a whopping 10 percent from 2011) in our county and labor income of $36.9 million, which translates into a 10 percent increase as well.
Our state and local tax coffers are then increased by $10.3 million and we contribute $8.8 million in federal taxes as well. What all of this really means is money and jobs in Schuylkill County and across Pennsylvania. The tourism industry does not compete with vital programs; it helps pay for them and that is precisely why tourism is a critical component of a comprehensive economic development plan for Schuylkill County and Pennsylvania.
The Schuylkill County 2014 Visitors Guide hits the shelves over the next two weeks. Be sure to keep an eye out for it and grab one. Inside you'll find attractions, outdoor recreation, dining, lodging, retail, arts, entertainment, wineries, events and so much more. We're excited about Schuylkill County's tourism prospects for 2014 and hope you are too.
We're always looking for new partners, members and creative ways to showcase our beautiful outdoor recreation destination.
To find out more about the benefits of membership, the 2014 Visitors Guide and other resources, give us a call at 570-622-7700, or email gina@schuylkill.org. Happy New Year from the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau.
(Gargano is executive director of Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau)