When people think of Pennsylvania, they think of Amish country, the rolling mountains, Hershey’s Chocolate, the Declaration of Independence, and the Liberty Bell. When they think of North Pennsylvania, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Poconos, a mountainous region renowned for its skiing and snowboarding possibilities. Yet, North Penn and Pennsylvania rarely rank among the top twenty most desirable regions for tourism in the US. Florida, New York, and California customarily take up the highest spots in such rankings.
However, all this may soon change. In 2024, Governor Shapiro announced that the Coal State is amidst a boom period regarding tourism. This sector is now generating an economic impact of $76.7 billion, supporting almost half a million jobs. The sphere saw thirty-four thousand more jobs added in 2022 compared to a year prior and twelve million more visitors.
Without question, tourism has become a sizeable economic driver in Pennsylvania, and it is now helping develop education, infrastructure, transportation, and other essential services through the tax dollars this arena can bring in. Hence, realizing the vital role that tourism could play in Pennsylvania’s economy, the Shapiro Administration has proposed a $15 million 2024-25 budget proposal funding increase. Below, we look at what many consider to be the chief factors spiking tourism interest in the home of the cheesesteak, especially its northern section.
Yes, that is not a typo. Elk tourism has become a major attraction in Northern Pennsylvania, where a once-extinct elk population has been restored. This is a form of tourism that started to thrive in these parts around 2020 and was one of the few that was pandemic-proof, as people who came to places like rural Elk County were able to go on personal car safaris to observe these majestic creatures in the northwest part of the state called the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Elks were once hunted to extinction in Pennsylvania, but they were reintroduced in 1912 when fifty were brought over from Yellowstone National Park by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Nonetheless, the elk did not instantly thrive; it was only over decades and careful conservation efforts that this small population expanded. Today, during elk mating season, which happens from August to November, when bulls fight over females, hundreds of thousands flock to North Penn to witness these beautiful animals in their natural habitat.
Their resurgence has also led to the creation of the Elk Country Visitor Center, a mountain lodge packed with elk exhibits, taxidermy displays, a 4D theater, and more. Lastly, the Pennsylvania Game Commission oversees three limited hunting seasons per year, which are permitted as a form of elk management.
Many Pennsylvania residents are likely unaware that the Retail and hospitality sector is one of the biggest in the state. For example, it is the second-largest in Philadelphia, creating over 1.3 million jobs in the City of Brotherly Love.
The hospitality landscape in the state has notched a notable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, with hotel occupancies growing for the past couple of years and new lodging complexes opening up. As far as northern Pennsylvania goes, the Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains and its nearby Camelback Resort were renovated and expanded in 2023, adapting to growing demand.
Chains like Shake Shack are also growing their Pennsylvania footprint, and it should go without saying that the gaming industry is onto big things in 2025 and beyond, after a record-setting 2024 when this sector pulled in $6.13 billion in gaming revenues. Commercial gaming in Pennsylvania keeps demonstrating unprecedented success. Moreover, this is one of only a few parts of the country where card gambling rooms and digital ones are allowed. Therefore, no one is struggling concerning where to find poker sites in PA, as seven of its land-based casinos have licenses to operate such platforms. That also includes the Mount Airy Casino Resort on 312 Woodland Road, Mount Pocono, the premier North Penn spot for gaming along with Mohegan, Pennsylvania, and Presque Isle Downs & Casino.
Without question, Pennsylvania is one of the most gambling-friendly states, which is a massive reason so many people visit it, especially those from Ohio and New York, where such gaming and poker availability does not exist. So, it should not shock anyone to see new gambling venues pop up here, as several Category Four licenses remain unclaimed.
This economic/tourism promotion effort debuted in 2003. It aims to revitalize Northern Pennsylvania, covering Cameron, Clinton, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Forest, Lycoming, McKean, Tioga, Potter, and Warren Counties, regions known for their forested landscapes. The effort sought to market these areas' natural beauty and make them more appealing to state-based and out-of-state businesses and visitors.
Interest in outdoor activities has swelled here through Wilds Are Working and similar campaigns, particularly through advertising pushes in markets like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, and Columbus.
All this has yielded tremendous fruits. New infrastructure is a cornerstone of the PA Wilds’ tourism strategy, evident by the already mentioned Elk Country Visitor Center and a 127-mile loop - Elk Scenic Drive - through Elk, Cameron, and Clearfield Counties.
