York, PA – The Cultural Alliance of York County has been named a recipient of a York County Tourism Grant, administered by Explore York, to fund a comprehensive six-month cultural tourism marketing campaign kicking off in June, 2022. The $95,000 grant will be used to raise the visibility of York County’s cultural destinations and draw cultural tourists from the surrounding counties for safe overnight visits using the new “Have it Made Here” York County brand.
This campaign will build on the “Raise the Curtain” public service campaign launched by the Cultural Alliance in February 2022 to bring audiences back to the arts and culture experiences they have been missing. This Explore York tourism grant will amplify the reach of this campaign to outer markets with a distance of more than 50 miles and track the economic impact of these visitors to York County attractions.
Pre-pandemic research on cultural tourists show they stay three days longer and spend an average of $600 more per visit than the average tourist. As York County continues its route to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic impact of cultural tourism will be vital. Utilizing digital advertising and landing page statistics to track success, the Cultural Alliance and the team at GRIT Marketing will advertise unique, high-touch experiences to attract visitors to York’s cultural institutions.
“Cultural tourists have always sought out destinations where they can experience local culture and immerse themselves in the destination;” said Kelley Gibson, President of the Cultural Alliance of York County. “With our wealth of cultural experiences and arts events, York County is a perfect overnight destination.”
Explore York’s Mission is to maximize tourism expenditures and their economic impact in York County, PA, through comprehensive tourism sales and marketing programs. Explore York’s Vision is for a York County where tourism is recognized for the value of its economic impact and its role in raising the profile of York County as a sought-after destination. For more information on Explore York, call 1-888-858-9675 or visit www.yorkpa.org.
Founded as a United Arts Fund in 1999, the Cultural Alliance’s annual campaign currently supports arts organizations and artists that are essential to arts and culture in our community. Over the past 22 years invested $12 million in cash and $2.5 million in in-kind support for the arts. Through critical operational grants, the Cultural Alliance is the lifeline for arts and culture in York County.
For more information, call the Cultural Alliance at 717-812-9255, visit our website at www.culturalyork.org, visit the Cultural Alliance of York on Facebook, and follow @CulturalYork on Instagram.
