Bustling tourism industry bolsters local economy
Courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Fallingwater's Speyer Gallery will showcase some of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's unbuilt designs for the estate from Oct. 15 through Dec. 31.
They move among us nearly every day of the year in the Laurel Highlands. Perhaps they’re sitting in the booth next to you as you sip your morning coffee in a local caf茅. Maybe they’re shopping next to you at the cute boutique store. Or they could be zipping past you on a bicycle on the Great Allegheny Passage trail.
They’re tourists, and the positive economic impact they make on the Laurel Highlands region goes unnoticed far too often.
Visitors to the Laurel Highlands – Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties – spent a record $2 billion in 2023, according to recent statistics from the Economic Impact of Travel and Tourism in Pennsylvania. That marks a 3% year-over-year increase, and the number continues to climb.
That includes $551 million in transportation costs, $458 million in food and beverage costs and $424 million in recreation. Visitors also spent $332 million on retail shopping and $240 million on our lodging properties.
Those visitors help our local restaurants, mom-and-pop shops and short-term rental properties thrive. The Laurel Highlands region had nearly 23,000 tourism-related jobs in 2023 – a 2.2% increase from the year before – and many of those are stable, family-sustaining jobs.
National Travel and Tourism Week, which started Sunday and runs through Saturday, is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on the importance of the visitors who make such a difference in our region. Not only do they help bring jobs to the Laurel Highlands; they also pay into the tax base.
The tourism industry generated $210.8 million in federal taxes – a 4.1% increase over the previous year – and $195.8 million in local and state taxes, which was up 2.8%.
Visitors are realizing why USA Today 10Best readers voted the Laurel Highlands as both one of the best summer travel destinations in 2024 as well as one of the top fall foliage destinations. Our region has stunning natural beauty, and our forest-covered mountains and fresh-water streams are perfect for those who love the outdoors.
We’re home to events and attractions that draw visitors from around the world, such as Fallingwater in Fayette County, the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County and Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Westmoreland County.
Statistics from GO Laurel Highlands, the official destination marketing organization for the region, show that 64% of visitors came from outside of Pennsylvania in 2024. They come from places like Washington, D.C., Cleveland and New York City – all of which ranked in the top 10 origin cities for Laurel Highlands visitors. And they have money to spend, with 61% having household incomes of $100,000 or more.
GO Laurel Highlands plays a key role in promoting the region, utilizing strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Visit Pittsburgh, VisitPA and the Pittsburgh International Airport to elevate the brand.
Data in the most recent report from Tourism Economics shows that 12% of all jobs in the region were related to tourism. So, while you might not have recognized the importance of their visits, the waitress pouring that morning coffee, the owner of that boutique shop and the entrepreneur who rented you the bicycle for the GAP ride all do.
Eric Knopsnyder is the director of public relations and community outreach for GO Laurel Highlands.