HARRISBURG, Pa., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's 14 Welcome Centers, which are managed by PennDOT, will conduct special programs and promotions to mark National Travel and Tourism Week from May 1-7.

"Pennsylvania Welcome Centers serve as attractive gateways to our visitors, and their staffs will work with local visitors bureaus and other tourism industry members to help promote this special week," said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. "The events will spotlight local attractions and demonstrate why tourism is one of Pennsylvania's top industries."

In many cases, Welcome Centers provide the first impression of Pennsylvania to out-of-state visitors. Each Welcome Center is a complete travel resource center for motorists, offering many free tourism services, such as lodging and restaurant reservations. In 2015, Pennsylvania Welcome Centers served more than 3.3 million customers and assisted over 17,000 travelers with lodging reservations. 

"During National Travel and Tourism Week, Welcome Centers spotlight attractions from the most popular to 'hidden gems' that make Pennsylvania such a great place to visit and explore," said Richards. "From Trolley Museum displays in Greene County to Smokey the Bear in Fulton County, Welcome Center visitors will be able to learn more about tourism hot spots across Pennsylvania."

In addition, Richards noted that visitors will also have the opportunity to receive free promotional items from state tourism partners and to learn about various products made in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's Welcome Centers are open 24 hours a day, and tourism staff is available at most locations from 7 AM to 7 PM, seven days a week, including most holidays.  

Pennsylvania's 14 Welcome Centers are at key border locations, including:

• I-90 West, one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/New York border in North East, Erie County;
• I-80 East, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Ohio border in West Middlesex, Mercer County;
• I-70 East, about five miles from the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in Claysville, Washington County;
• I-79 North, about five miles past the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in Mount Morris, Greene County;
• I-70 West, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in Warfordsburg, Fulton County;
• I-81 North, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in State Line, Franklin County;
• I-83 North, about two-and-a-half miles from the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in Shrewsbury, York County;
• I-95 North, one-half mile from the Pennsylvania/Delaware border in Linwood, Delaware County;
• I-78 East, about one-half mile from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border in Easton, Northampton County;
• I-81 South in Great Bend, Susquehanna County;
• I-84 off Exit 11 in Matamoras, Pike County;
• Route 15 South, seven miles past Pennsylvania/New York border in Tioga, Tioga County;
• I-80 West off Exit 310 in Delaware Water Gap, Monroe County; and
• I-276 West on PA Turnpike, Milepost 328.4, King of Prussia, Montgomery County.

The Welcome Center features and National Travel and Tourism Week are additional ways that visitors are encouraged to "Pursue Your Happiness." The new state slogan, unveiled in March by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office and Pennsylvania Tourism Partnership, captures the spirit of the Keystone State, echoing the famous call to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" that began with our nation's Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776.

For more information on Pennsylvania's Welcome Centers visit the "Travel In PA" section of www.penndot.gov. Additional information on tourism and travel in the state is available at www.visitPA.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rich Kirkpatrick or Erin Waters-Trasatt, 717-783-8800.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us