LANCASTER, Pa. — According to Discover Lancaster's economic impact report, in 2023 an estimated 9.92 million visitors came to Lancaster County and spent $2.58 billion. This is a significant increase compared to data in 2022.
This year, organizers and small businesses are expecting that number to continue to grow. To keep attracting visitors, officials are rolling out a new experience for locals and first-timers to enjoy.
“What it means is an extra $1 billion in total economic impact in this county economy, which is huge,” said Joel Cliff, the director of communications at Discover Lancaster.
The gradual increase is welcomed after a few tough years. Cliff said during the pandemic they took a hit and lost a lot of revenue due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. With restaurants, attractions, and stores closed down, the anticipation of whether Lancaster County would return to pre-pandemic levels was considered. Cliff said in 2021, Lancaster County saw a spike in people returning to the outdoors.
“We were fortunate in 2021 to get back above 2019 number in just a year,” said Cliff. He added, “2022 was like a mardi-gras and just took off.”
To attract more visitors for the 2024 year, Discover Lancaster rolled out a new mobile agritourism app called Lancaster County Farm Adventure Trail. The Farm Adventure Trail is a free mobile passport that allows you to check in at farm-to-table restaurants, roadside stands, farm-themed attractions, preserved farms, and more participating businesses to redeem special offers and earn points towards prizes.
“It also allows donating to Farm Land Trust which is one of our main organizations that helps preserve the farms that we find so beautiful here and keeps them from being paved over and losing what’s beautiful and special about this place,” said Joel.
Thirty destinations are a part of the Lancaster County Farm Adventure Trail, and one of them is Lemon Street Market. Lemon Street Market is an independent and woman-owned grocery store that works with several farms across the county. The shopping experience helps tourists and visitors understand the food-to-table concept and how they can support local by buying locally.
“We buy directly from about half a dozen local produce farmers regularly,” said Dave Dietz, the produce and dairy manager at Lemon Street Market.
Lemon Street Market has also been a part of Discover Lancaster for several years and has been expanding the tourism and farming industries by letting people know where their produce, dairy, and meat come from.
“It’s always great to have new people come into town and our store whenever possible,” said Dietz.
To learn more about Discover Lancaster or the Lancaster Country Farm Adventure Trail, click here.
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