Pennsylvania Tourism & Marketing Office

Since July 2006, Commercial Specialists Brigitte de Stexhe and Danny Dumon have met on several occasions with Belgian reporter Kris Clerckx. Mr. Clerckx is a freelance journalist specializing in tourism and culture. He works for several Dutch-speaking media outlets. He is also the author of the well-known travel guides "In het spoor van Sissi/In the Footsteps of Empress Sissi" and "In het spoor van Mozart/In the footsteps of Mozart". He recently published a 400-page book "Expeditie Columbus/Expedition Columbus".

Mr. Clerckx traveled to Pennsylvania and New York from October 2 through October 12, 2007, to produce a television program called "Expedition Columbus USA". Mr. Clerckx's trip was made possible thanks to the counseling sessions and list of contacts provided by de Stexhe and Dumon. Special thanks go to United Airlines, Avis Rent-a-Car, and the Visitors Bureaus of the locations Mr. Clerckx visited. This TV program brings the history and wonder of the United States into hundreds of thousands of Belgian homes.

As a result of Mr. Clerckx's trip, national Dutch-speaking VRT television broadcasted an eight-minute program on Pennsylvania on March 8 and 9, 2008 during primetime, as part of its very popular series "Vlaanderen Vakantieland". It was again shown on August 30 and 31, 2008, following encouragement from CS de Stexhe, providing additional exposure for Pennsylvania. In particular Doylestown and its Fonthill Castle, Philadelphia and its Columbus Parade, and Boalsburg with its Boal Mansion, Columbus Chapel and Columbus Ball were shown in the program.

National Dutch-speaking VRT television is the public broadcasting network of the Flemish Community. Its weekly program "Vlaanderen Vakantieland" is viewed by over 600,000 persons. Undoubtedly this television coverage and the new book "Columbus Expedition" will attract more visitors to Pennsylvania.