Pennsylvania First Lady Susan Corbett Kicks off DCED on the Road Tourism Luncheon

PA Tourism Office Launches New VisitPA.com, Releases 2013 Vacation Guide

SKYTOP, Pa., March 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- First Lady Susan Corbett joined Pennsylvania Tourism Office representatives today in the Poconos to discuss the impacts of tourism in the commonwealth and to launch a redesign of visitPA.com, featuring new travel content to make roadtrip planning easier and more interactive.

"As Pennsylvania's First Tourist, I'm excited to participate in today's announcement to launch a redesign of visitPA.com," First Lady Corbett said.  "The new website will make it easier for travelers to explore Pennsylvania just in time for the spring and summer travel season." 

With more than two million visitors using visitPA.com as a travel destination resource in 2012, the website plays a critical role in connecting travelers to Pennsylvania's diverse attractions.

"We invite visitors to experience the history, adventure, diversity and splendor of the commonwealth through our new website," said Carolyn Newhouse, deputy secretary for Innovation & Investment at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). "Whether you are looking for iconic attractions, world-class museums or recreational opportunities, visitPA.com is the ultimate resource to inspire travel to Pennsylvania."

VisitPA.com now welcomes visitors with a fresh homepage featuring an interactive state map and connections to 44 regional roadtrips. For the first time, vacationers can seamlessly plan a getaway using BookDirect, a free tool that allows visitors to quickly determine hotel rates and make lodging reservations immediately. New features on beer, wine and food are just a taste of the new site content, and group travelers can now access direct links to information on meetings, conventions and group tours.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office also released today its 2013 "Best of Pennsylvania" Vacation Guide to help travelers explore the state's most popular destinations and regional roundups focused on Trip Tips, Not-to-Miss lists and Kidsylvania ideas. The cover pays tribute to Gettysburg and Pennsylvania's 150th commemoration of the Civil War, in addition to features on "State of the Art" and the State Games of America hosted in Pennsylvania this summer.

First Lady Susan Corbett was joined by DCED Secretary C. Alan Walker and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office as part of DCED on the Road, a series of events across Northeast Pennsylvania to discuss Governor Corbett's plans for economic growth, job creation and community development.

DCED representatives will spend three days, March 25 – 27, traveling throughout Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties, visiting successful projects, and meeting with community, economic development and tourism partners.

The "Best of Pennsylvania" guide is available online at visitpa.com/pa-vacation-guide or by calling 1-800-VISIT PA.

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 pinterest.com/visitPA, friend us at foursquare.com/visitPA, or watch us on youtube.com/visitPA.

Media contact: Steve Kratz, 717-783-1132

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

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development