The PA Great Outdoors mobile app is free to download. It can be downloaded from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The Android app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Sara Frank, the marketing and publications coordinator for the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, spearheaded the project and is eager for visitors to use the mobile app during their Great Outdoors visits.
“Tourism-specific mobile apps are popping up all over the country but have almost no presence thus far in rural areas. I thought a mobile app would be a great opportunity for our bureau, because we represent such a large, diverse region with so many unique attractions,” said Frank.
“Luckily, when I presented the idea, it was met with nothing but positivity and support. The development has been a long process, and we’re very excited for visitors to experience the region in a whole new way.”
The app is completely location-based. This enables a user to sort business and attraction listings according to where they are and what’s closest to them. Turn-by-turn directions are available for navigating to any location on the app.
The navigation feature is satellite driven, so it can be used even in areas without cell service. When the app content is downloaded to a device, rather than using traditional streaming, all of the information will still be available to the user when they are in areas without cell service. This is an important aspect of the app for the region where cell service can sometimes be inconsistent or hard to find, said Frank.
All business profiles include a vibrant photo gallery, a video, if applicable, a thorough description and click-to-call phone number, email capabilities, a Web site link and social media links. The app offers deals and upcoming events for travelers as well as locals.
More than 175 million people travel to and within Pennsylvania every year. This has a total economic impact of $32.9 billion on the state’s economy and $3.4 billion in travel-and-tourism related state and local tax revenue annually.
According to Google’s 2012 Traveler Survey, 44 percent of travelers have downloaded a travel-related app. Travel planning via a computer is seeing a decrease as mobile apps are becoming more relevant and important to the travel industry than ever.
The Pennsylvania Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau is a non-profit, membership-based local tourism promotion agency, dedicated to promoting tourism-related businesses and events in the area. The PA Great Outdoors covers a five-county region, including Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest and Jefferson counties.