Study suggests Pa. tourism commission, tax changes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A new state-funded study says Pennsylvania should create an independent tourism commission and change the handling of county hotel room tax revenue.
The study by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative research agency, looks at ways to help promote tourism in the commonwealth, The (Scranton) Times-Tribune (http://bit.ly/M3Hbb9 ) said.
State spending for tourism promotion has dropped sharply in the past few years, leaving tourism promotion agencies to rely more heavily on hotel room tax revenues. Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed $3 million for tourism in the 2012-13 fiscal year, which would be $1 million less than current funding. In addition, a half-century-old state subsidy for ad campaigns by regional tourism promotion agencies ended this year.
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