If the saying goes, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," then why is a new tourism slogan getting such sour reviews in the Poconos?
"I don't really think of a particular place where I hear Upstate PA," said Alan Marmelstein of Stroudsburg.
"I think it's kind of stupid," said Nicole Senquiz, of Manhattan.
The two are talking about a new tourism campaign to rename the 11 most northeastern counties in the state, including the Poconos, "Upstate PA."
"The economy is obviously changing the way we look at our business and so we are having to come up with new models and new incentives," said Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau President Carl Wilgus.
Newswatch 16 met up with Wilgus at the tourism "Turning Green Into Green" Day at the Shawnee Inn. There he said the aim of the tourism campaign is not to rename the Poconos but to join forces with surrounding recreation spots, like Luzerne, Lackwanna and Bradford counties, to lure what Wilgus called "roof rackers." Those are people looking for outdoor fun, such as biking, hiking and boating.
"The label of Upstate PA as a place to come for dedicated outdoor recreation enthusiasts," Wilgus said.
So will the name Upstate PA really draw in tourists? DOo people even like the name? Those are questions that Newswatch 16 asked both tourists and locals a Smithfield Beach on the Delaware River near Shawnee.
"Upstate PA sounds very nice," said Bill Estabrook was visiting from New Jersey. To Estabrook, if Upstate New York worked, why wouldn't Upstate PA?
However fellow tourist Nicole Senquiz, of Manhattan, said she wasn't so sure.
"It doesn't make any sense," she said while getting into a canoe on the river.
As for locals, like Cali Rusk from Brodheadsville, many said they liked the name Poconos just fine.
"I think it's a nicer name," said Rusk. "I don't think Upstate PA. I don't know. It's not really upstate."
According to state tourism officials, Upstate PA or the Poconos, either way you say it, the aim is still to bring in tourists and their wallets to the region.
"I don't really think of a particular place where I hear Upstate PA," said Alan Marmelstein of Stroudsburg.
"I think it's kind of stupid," said Nicole Senquiz, of Manhattan.
The two are talking about a new tourism campaign to rename the 11 most northeastern counties in the state, including the Poconos, "Upstate PA."
"The economy is obviously changing the way we look at our business and so we are having to come up with new models and new incentives," said Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau President Carl Wilgus.
Newswatch 16 met up with Wilgus at the tourism "Turning Green Into Green" Day at the Shawnee Inn. There he said the aim of the tourism campaign is not to rename the Poconos but to join forces with surrounding recreation spots, like Luzerne, Lackwanna and Bradford counties, to lure what Wilgus called "roof rackers." Those are people looking for outdoor fun, such as biking, hiking and boating.
"The label of Upstate PA as a place to come for dedicated outdoor recreation enthusiasts," Wilgus said.
So will the name Upstate PA really draw in tourists? DOo people even like the name? Those are questions that Newswatch 16 asked both tourists and locals a Smithfield Beach on the Delaware River near Shawnee.
"Upstate PA sounds very nice," said Bill Estabrook was visiting from New Jersey. To Estabrook, if Upstate New York worked, why wouldn't Upstate PA?
However fellow tourist Nicole Senquiz, of Manhattan, said she wasn't so sure.
"It doesn't make any sense," she said while getting into a canoe on the river.
As for locals, like Cali Rusk from Brodheadsville, many said they liked the name Poconos just fine.
"I think it's a nicer name," said Rusk. "I don't think Upstate PA. I don't know. It's not really upstate."
According to state tourism officials, Upstate PA or the Poconos, either way you say it, the aim is still to bring in tourists and their wallets to the region.
