Research Reports

Research was conducted in five Pennsylvania Heritage Areas in 2014-2015 to analyze their economic impact in Pennsylvania. The research involved a survey of heritage-area visitors, interviews with stakeholders in the five study heritage areas (HAs), and an estimation of the economic impact of the heritage-related visitation to all 12 HAs statewide. Overall, the research found that tourists spent an estimated 7.5 million days/nights in Pennsylvania's 12 HAs in 2014, purchasing $2 billion worth of goods and services. The total contribution of heritage visitor spending to the state's economy was 25,708 jobs and $798 million in labor income. HAs play a key role in sustaining tourism throughout the regions they operate. All five study HAs were extremely active in their respective communities as planners, patterns and advisors. Although regional tourism promotions are not their only significant organizational objective, the HAs make strong efforts to maximize the impact of heritage tourism by partnering with their regional tourism promotion agencies.