Pocono News Section

New CMVB Hopes to Boost Tourism

New CMVB Hopes to Boost Tourism - Friday, February 19, 2010 at 5:47PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Friday, Feb 19, 2010 @ 05:47pm EST
Danville, Montour County-

The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau has undergone something of a makeover recently. Officials hope the move will help bolster local tourism.

From a coat of fresh paint to a dapper new design, the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is looking good these days.

And since the Danville Business Alliance and the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce moved out, the visitors’ bureau building on Mill Street is sporting a lot more space.

Harold Hurst, of Cooper Township, explained, "They were very close-quartered. They were squeezed in. And for practical reasons, this is just a plus for the downtown."

Locals and tourists stopping here can find fantastic info on nearly every destination and event in central Pennsylvania and beyond.

Executive Director David Kurecian noted, "In this day and age of social networking, Facebook and Twitter, the more people that we can get out there speaking about our product and our assets, the better we are."

"So how better to do that than to invite them right down here into their own neighborhood to say, 'Look what's available here," Kurecian continued.

Nancy Sabo, of Danville, said, "It's nice and it's bigger and I like all the old stuff that's here...like old books. I was looking at the book from Centralia, because I’m formerly from Mount Carmel, so I know about that kind of place."

One of the biggest changes the visitors’ bureau officials are excited about is the fact that this office will now be staffed by a paid employee five days a week. Previously it was run by volunteers.

They believe that will provide a big boost to local tourism, which ranks as PA's 2nd largest industry.

Hurst added, "More and more people are interested in the history of a town, of a region, what made this town. And they enjoy coming into town to see the architecture of the buildings."

Folks here expect the remodeled visitors’ bureau, combined with a refurbished downtown, to be a win-win for the region.

The volunteers who organize Danville's annual Iron Heritage Festival will continue to share space with the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau.