FY 2021/22 Highlights
VisitMercerCountyPA is the marketing leader for the travel and tourism industry in Mercer County with the goal to expand and strengthen travel and tourism and enhance the overall economy of Mercer County.
WaterFireSharon: July 23 and Sept. 24
PRESIDENT/CEO MESSAGE After almost two years of uncertainty due to the pandemic, Travel and Tourism began to rebound during fiscal year 2021/22. Pent up demand and easing of restrictions led the way for tourists to make the decision to get on the roads, on the water and in the air. They were eager to have fun experiences, enjoy scenic locations and visit family and friends they hadn’t seen in two years. The Travel and Tourism industry scrambled to meet this demand. Staff had to be called back, supply chain issues and revenue losses from the pandemic had to be resolved. Staff shortages became the new norm causing tourism sites to shorten their hours. Some were even forced to close for short periods until they could attract and train additional staff. Then gas prices went up significantly and the cost to travel also went up significantly. The visitor had to learn to have more patience in this new set of circumstances and adjust their budget, but the desire for travel was still strong. During the pandemic, the Mercer County Tourism program experienced about a 33% drop in revenue falling to $619,850.00 due to travel restrictions and an overall decline in travel. However by 2021/22 our hotel excise receipts outpaced FY 2019 by 4% increasing to $975,000.00. We are definitely seeing signs of recovery in Mercer County.
Lake to Lake Paddle Challenge: August 27
Hotel Excise Tax: FY 2021/22 $975,290.00 FY 2020/21 $619,850.00 FY 2019/20 $932,176.00 While many destination marketing organizations suspended marketing during the pandemic we made a decision to continue our online campaigns including: Web tracker, Google, Facebook, native content advertising, Over the Top TV, email blasts, videos on Youtube/website and others. We felt it was important to keep Mercer County top of mind for future travel decisions. Our industry continue to face challenges even as pandemic restrictions ease. Increased costs, supply chain issues, staff shortages and bringing back a higher level of visits from our main international market (Canada) are just a few. However we are positioning ourselves to meet these challenges. Mercer County is a wonderful place for those authentic and diverse experiences that travelers are looking for. We are centrally located, and we have the vision and leadership to create new products and packages to help Mercer County’s tourism industry grow. SkyDive Festival: August 5 – 7
YOUR SOURCE FOR TRAVEL PLANNING