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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland |
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House adopts Kirkland resolution recognizing tourism in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, April 22 – State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, said the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has adopted his resolution (H.R. 241) recognizing today as Tourism Day in Pennsylvania and the week of May 9-17 as National Tourism Week in the state.
Kirkland, chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, said tourism is the second-largest industry in Pennsylvania and a major contributor to the state's economy.
"Tourism in the state brings in close to $28 billion in visitor spending and creates more than 60,000 jobs annually," Kirkland said. "Pennsylvania is the fifth-most-visited state in the United States and that is something all of us can be proud of."
Kirkland said today's recognition of Tourism Day coincides with Earth Day in the Commonwealth.
"I am encouraging Pennsylvania residents to participate in recreational and environmental activities across the state," Kirkland stated.
According to the state's Tourism Department, the industry generates $10.7 billion in wages and benefits and accounts for close to 7 percent of all people employed in Pennsylvania. There are 400,000 people employed in the state's hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, ski resorts and restaurants.
Kirkland said more information is available at www.patourismequalsjobs.com.
In other news, Kirkland said the tourism committee is planning public hearings in Chester County next week on a state law that offers incentives to film companies that spend at least 60 percent of their production's expenses in Pennsylvania.
The Delaware County lawmaker said he will visit the site of the soon-to-be constructed Sun Center Studios, a Hollywood-style movie production studio to be located on the 33-acre site of the Tri-state Sports complex.
Kirkland said more information is available on tourism in Pennsylvania is available online at www.visitpa.com.