People of the Pocono Mountains know the value of tourism. One in three residents has a connection to the travel and hospitality industry, and this four-county region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania plays host to 25 million visitors per year.
Locals recently became even more connected to tourism through an innovative campaign in partnership with National Geographic and Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB), the regional destination marketing organization (DMO). The PMVB recently helped forge a coalition beyond state and county lines to collect and share local stories that depict the natural beauty found along the scenic, wild Delaware River that runs through the area.
Carl Wilgus, President & CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, participated in Destination Think! Forum 2016 in New York City, where destination leaders met to discuss the industry’s greatest challenges, including trends around community and collaboration. In this interview Carl was asked to describe the PMVB’s partnership with National Geographic and tell us why it’s important for both residents and the tourism industry.
This is an excerpt from an article from Destination.Think! To read the full interview, visit Unique partnership with National Geographic helps Pocono Mountains residents tell local stories.
