By ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST VISITORS BUREAU
The work of the tourism industry is often presented in terms of economic impact, but the heart of the industry is about people. Many hardworking people throughout our region depend on this industry for their livelihoods, and COVID-19 presents challenges for all of us. Our colleagues, neighbors and families are weathering this public health and economic crisis, and the ANF Visitors Bureau is working even harder to support the people and businesses that depend on tourism spending.
The ANF Visitors Bureau, and our communities, have faced significant challenges before, the financial crisis of 2008 and the tourism decline following the tornado of 2003, which destroyed one of our region’s main attractions, the Kinzua Viaduct. “The ANF Visitors Bureau would point to this disaster in particular as an example of the incredible resilience and imagination of our Commonwealth and region. The Kinzua Bridge State park was reimagined into a new attraction and is now one of the most visited in the state.” We are a region with a demonstrated track record of tenacity and the ability to weather the storms and come back even stronger. Experience has also shown us that in previous experiences it was the rural areas with outdoor recreation which recovered first.
The ANF Visitors Bureau will continue to share health updates, state and national travel updates, along with links to the most useful information from experts in our field to our member/partners and the public.
In this time of crisis, we are reaching out to all businesses and are offering to share all information aimed at helping small businesses including the latest updates from the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, Smith Travel Research, Destination Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Department of Community and Economic Development and other sources. During this time, our office is communicating via email correspondence, acting as a clearing house for timely and accurate information. If you are a member, please make a note to open our constant contact communications we are releasing via email, all are full of information aimed at assisting local businesses.
If you are currently not a member of our agency and would like to receive our informational updates, the ANF Visitors Bureau will gladly share our resources of information with you so please email info@visitANF.com with your name, the name of your business, and your email address and we will email past releases and add your contact information to our COVID-19 information distribution list.
We have created a new “Local Resources Guide” to assist our local businesses during the current mandated travel restrictions. The guide is a quick reference directory for take-outs and food delivery, along with local groceries and food products available in our area This includes RV parks and lodging, and local attraction closings. With a daily Facebook following of over 79,000 people @ANFVisitorsBureau, our agency is using this format and our website to inform both local residents and tourists with the most current and accurate information. If you have a change or addition to the information available online, please email us at info@visitANF.com. We rely on the input of our partners and the public to help keep available information up-to-date.
The ANF Visitors Bureau Welcome Center at 80 E. Corydon Street, Bradford, Pennsylvania is closed until March 31, at which time we will evaluate the situation. All staff will be working remotely during this time. The Kinzua Bridge State Park, the Kinzua Sky Walk, and the park trails remain open. However, the Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center and Gift Shop are currently closed. Currently, all of the public trails, along with Allegheny National Forest lands, are open for regular operating hours according to their seasonal schedule. All lodging facilities are also open.
In support of our region, we are continuing to market with messaging which incorporates all of our many outdoor activities, along with how to stay healthy while traveling during this time with information sourced from public health officials. During this challenging time, we are keeping our tourism marketing strategy flexible and responsive to the quickly changing health crisis.
The ANF Visitors Bureau believes in the strength and tenacity of all local businesses, services, and community agencies and we will continue be a vital resource of information going forward. To contact us call 800-473-9370 or email info@visitANF.com.
