The Destination Niagara Strategy

I'm encouraged by the Destination Niagara Strategy recently unveiled by the Ontario Government -- but I also have important questions and concerns that deserve public discussion.

The most immediate gains in tourism will come from transit investment.

As we expand transit access, we must also be realistic about the increased costs of maintaining existing road and rail infrastructure, which will see heavier use.

Similarly, expanding the capacity of the Niagara District Airport could be significant -- but only if aligned with a broader, sustainable transportation strategy.

Seasonality is a major issue for Niagara.

During summer months and peak holidays, many lodging facilities already reach capacity, and this is also the height of our agricultural tourism season.

If we want tourism growth to truly benefit locals -- especially those struggling with seasonal employment -- we should be asking: what attractions and experiences are being developed to drive winter tourism?

The discussion of additional gaming facilities raises red flags.

Market research shows consumers are frequenting physical casinos less as online options expand.

Niagara casinos are losing revenue -- even as overall tourism to Niagara continues to grow rapidly post-Covid.

More casinos does not appear to be a data-driven solution.

Finally, the Premier spoke of doubling annual visitors while ideally doubling revenue as well.

More visitors also mean greater strain on hospitals, policing, and local infrastructure.

Rather than simply increasing volume, encouraging visitors to spend more per trip would create stronger outcomes for both residents and government.

This requires being intentional about who we attract.

For example, the LGBTQ2+ tourism market is reported to spend up to 533% more per trip on average (Statistics Canada, 2018)

That can mean spending $1900 where another visitor might spend $300.

The LGBTQ2+ tourism market in Canada alone is valued at $12 Billion annually -- this is not a niche opportunity.

Niagara has a real chance to increase revenue, stabilize local employment, and be genuinely inclusive at the same time.

What could be better than that?