PA Joins Foursquare Mobile Social Networking Community

Restaurants, Retails Stores, Museums, and Historical Sites Urged to Participate

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania has become the first state to join a new mobile social networking community allowing tourists and tourism-related businesses to share real-time experiences and find the hottest attractions in the commonwealth, Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley announced today.

The commonwealth signed with the Foursquare community under the popular tourism ID, "visitPA."  Users can share their location; earn points toward special business discounts; offer insider tips to popular restaurants, lodging, and attractions; and achieve "mayor" status for being the person who visits a place most often.

"Foursquare is the hot new thing in the social networking universe," said Rowley. "Think of it as social scene social media. You determine the places to see and be seen. Plus, its mobile savvy allows users to instantly alert friends of their location, offer tips and create a must-do list."

Visitors to Pennsylvania also have the opportunity to earn three custom badges: "PA Shooflyer" (Food), "PA Retail Polka" (Shopping), and "PA 4 Score & 7" (History). Users will earn these badges after checking in at eligible locations.

"We would like to see every Pennsylvania restaurant, retail store, historical site, and museum join Foursquare," Rowley said. "The best part is that it doesn't cost anything to add a location, plus it gives businesses a chance to reward customers who are checking in the most."

Destinations interested in joining Foursquare should visit foursquare.com and select "Add Things."  Those already listed can join the visitPA must-do list and become a PA badge-eligible venue by providing the name of their business and their unique Foursquare venue number, as well as their contact information. To learn more about the business benefits, visit foursquare.com/businesses.

Foursquare is a leader in mobile-based social networking and local content services. Its mobile applications help users meet with friends on-the-go and discover exciting things to do in their communities. Users can also link their Foursquare updates to their Facebook and Twitter pages.

For more information about visiting Pennsylvania on Foursquare, go to visitPA.com/foursquare.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the state Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to inspiring travel to the State of Independence. For more information, go to visitPA.com or call (800) VISIT PA; become a fan at facebook.com/visitPA, follow us at twitter.com/visitPA, share photos at flickr.com/visitPA, or watch us on youtube.com/visitPA. For a free subscription to Pursuits Magazine, go to visitPA.com/pursuits.

Media contact: Michael Chapaloney, 717-720-1301

Editor's Note: For additional Pennsylvania tourism story ideas, follow us at www.twitter.com/patourismpr.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Tourism Office