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PA Tourism Unveils Geotourism Map Guide of Appalachia Featuring PA Destinations; National Geographic Map Highlights Natural, Cultural and Heritage Hot Spots in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Deputy Secretary for Tourism in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Mickey Rowley, along with Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Anne Pope and Ed Silvetti, Executive Director of Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, unveiled Pennsylvania's contribution to the "Geotourism Map Guide to Appalachia" today at the ARC's "Assets to Opportunities" Conference in Altoona. The map, developed by National Geographic with assistance from ARC and state tourism officials, highlights the region's natural, cultural, and heritage-related assets. "This is a great example of how we can work regionally to highlight our resources, drive geotourism and ultimately impact our local economies," said Rowley. "I would like to congratulate National Geographic for featuring some wonderful sites here in Pennsylvania." ARC federal co-chair Anne Pope, noted, "Cultural heritage tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism today. This guide is an economic development tool that will help Appalachian communities diversify their economies and take full advantage of the Region's rich, diverse and, in many cases, undiscovered assets." Rowley noted that geotourism is a relatively new term in the tourism industry, defined by National Geographic as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, and heritage - and the well-being of its residents." The Appalachian Region boasts six of the top 10 states most visited by travelers from this sector, and travelers from this group also tend to stay longer and spend more than the average tourist on their trips, boding well for the local economies in the affected areas. Some of the Pennsylvania sites on the map include Old Bedford Village in Bedford, Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh, the town of Jim Thorpe, Cherry Springs State Park Dark Sky Preserve in Galeton, and the Drake Well Museum in Titusville. [A full list of the state's sites listed on the map is included below.] ARC is a unique partnership between the federal government and the 13 Appalachian states, created to help the people of Appalachia reach socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation. The Appalachian Region, defined by Congress, includes 23 million people in 410 counties. It includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and all of West Virginia. The Pennsylvania Tourism Office is dedicated to fulfilling the needs and aspirations of travelers by presenting them with the information and resources they need to plan and enjoy the activities, attractions and destinations that are unique to Pennsylvania. For more information about Pennsylvania's tourism industry, go to http://www.visitpa.com, or call (800) VISIT PA. Editor's note: For an electronic copy of Pennsylvania's portion of the ARC map, please call Carrie Fischer at (717) 720-1301. The Pennsylvania- specific sites from the map are listed below by region. LIST OF PENNSYLVANIA SITES ON THE GEOTOURISM MAP GUIDE TO APPALACHIA (by region): Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Region -- Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Guy Mills -- Meadville Market House, Meadville -- Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad, Oil City -- Drake Well Museum, Titusville -- Wendell August Forge, Grove City -- Riverside Inn, Cambridge Springs -- The Seaway Trail Pennsylvania Wilds Region -- Crook Farm, Bradford -- Penn-Brad Oil Museum, Bradford -- Sawmill Center for the Arts, Cooksburg -- Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, Galeton -- Dark Sky Preserve at Cherry Springs State Park, Galeton -- Warren Historic District/Warren Main Street, Warren -- Pine Creek Gorge, Wellsboro -- Walking Tour of Historic Wellsboro, Wellsboro -- Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum and World Series, Williamsport -- Woolrich Original Company Store, Woolrich -- Wyalusing Hotel, Wyalusing -- Wyalusing Rocks and Marie Antoinette Overlook, Wyalusing -- Groundhog Day, February 2, "Punxsutawney Phil", Punxsutawney -- Hoverter and Sholl Box, Huckleberry Natural Area, New Bloomfield -- Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mt. Jewett Northeast Pennsylvania Mountain Region -- Old Mauch Chunk National Historic District, Jim Thorpe -- #9 Mine and Museum, Lansford -- Nay Aug Park, Gorge and Waterfall, Scranton -- Rohman's Inn, Shohola -- French Azilum and the Laporte House, Towanda -- Eckley Miners' Village, Weatherly -- Exploring Audubon's Leigh, Weatherly -- The Lion Brewery, Inc., Wilkes-Barre -- F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre -- Delaware and Hudson Canal and Stourbridge Rail Line Excursion, Honesdale -- Zane Grey Museum, Lackawaxen -- Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, Beach Lake -- Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel -- Grey Towers National Historic Landmark, Milford Central Mountains and Valleys -- Old Bedford Village, Bedford -- Inn at Turkey Hill, Bloomsburg -- Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, Altoona -- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Gallitzin -- U.S. Hotel Restaurant and Tavern, Hollidaysburg -- Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks, Huntingdon -- Historic National Road -- Colonial Boalsburg, Boalsburg -- Warrior Run - Fort Freeland Heritage Days, Warrior Run -- Allegheny National Scenic Trail Pittsburgh and Its Countryside -- Old Economy Village, Ambridge -- Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life, Avella -- Sarris Candies, Canonsburg -- The Great Allegheny Passage, Greensburg -- Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, Homestead -- Bradford House, Washington -- Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, Pittsburgh -- Laurel Caverns, Hopwood CONTACT: Carrie Fischer, Pennsylvania Tourism Office, +1-717-720-1301 SOURCE Pennsylvania Tourism Office

Web Site: http://www.state.pa.us http://www.visitpa.com

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