Governor Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro were in Erie, one of the only major cities in Pennsylvania in the path of totality, to witness the eclipse.
“Pennsylvania is one of 13 states in the path of totality for today’s eclipse — but nowhere else has the beauty of the Erie bayfront. This is one of the largest tourism events ever for Erie, with thousands of visitors enjoying this historic event from Lake Erie Speedway to Presque Isle and getting to experience all that Pennsylvania has to offer,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “But Pennsylvania is a terrific tourist spot for more than just one day. From our restaurants and bars to our state parks, trails, and outdoor recreation outfitters, Pennsylvania is a world-class destination, and we want the rest of the world to know about it. Tourism serves as a powerful economic engine, benefitting nearly every corner of our Commonwealth and giving Pennsylvanians more opportunities to pursue their passion, support their families, and succeed — and that’s why I’m proposing $18 million for tourism and business marketing in my budget to continue to attract visitors to our great Commonwealth.”
The tourism industry already generates more than $76 billion a year in Pennsylvania, and supports more than 486,000 jobs. The governor has proposed an additional $18 million in funding for tourism and business marketing in his 2024-25 budget.
Visit Erie is the tourist promotion agency for Erie County. The agency estimates the total number of visitors to Erie County for Monday’s solar eclipse could reach as many as 200,000 people.