The Story of Tourism in Niagara, 1969 to Present Day

There are many reasons to visit the Niagara region, though Niagara Falls has undoubtedly been its showcase for centuries. However, Niagara Falls is not the only reason to visit the region. The area is also home to several historic sites, owing to its position along traditional trade routes and the Canada-United States border. More recent initiatives, such as a “Living Museum Tour” in Niagara Falls, highlight the history of Indigenous peoples across Niagara. Visitors to Niagara can also tour remnants of the early Welland Canal system or observe the ongoing operation of the current canal. Other sites showcase the evolution of hydroelectric power generation in Ontario or Niagara’s place in the Underground Railway. Niagara’s micro-climate has also nurtured an agriculture that features tender fruits, leading to a wine industry that now draws tourists from around the world.

Despite the many reasons for visiting Niagara, the region’s prominence as a tourist destination was not inevitable. Instead, tourism in Niagara has been crafted by a determined effort to capitalize, protect, and improve upon the natural and historic significance of the region itself.

This paper explores the growth of the tourism industry in Niagara and its role in economic development policy post-1969, which is the year the Regional Municipality of Niagara was officially incorporated as a two-tier municipality in the Province of Ontario. This paper explores the policies that have supported or constrained the tourism industry during this time, as well as the opportunities and challenges that exist for Niagara’s tourism sector today.

Nathan A. Olmstead
Tia Henstra
Charles Conteh

Brock University

October 2023