The U.S. Department of Commerce the  International Trade Administration Office of  Travel and Tourism Industries statistics for  Overseas Visitation Estimates for U.S. States, Cities, and Census Regions: 2011.

Ranked in the #20 position was the Buffalo-Niagara Region with 335,000 international travelers reporting to have visited the area.  It is a great stat but it does not really tell the whole story for the area.  Unlike the majority of the other cities listed, Buffalo-Niagara is a Bi-National region.In terms of overall numbers, it would not be too far off to assume that another 335,000 to 400,000 international visitors were attracted to the Canadian side of this great region.  Combined, both sides of the border could easily have attracted 700,000+ world travelers.  Pretty darned good I would say.

In any case, we still have our work cut out.  There is no reason why 1 to 1.5 million Overseas travelers could not be attracted to the areas with an effective marketing campaign.  Both sides of the border offer history, amusement, music, arts, theater, fun, excitement, zoos and animal parks, wine trails, architecture, gaming, fine dining and more.

We may take a beating from American snobs because we actually have winters, but in the end  the knowledgeable world traveler is much more sophisticated than they and voted with their vacation/holiday money as proof.

Note:  $$$$ – First Niagara Tuesday’s @ New York State Artpark  = $5.00 Advance – $10.00 At the Gate

New York State Artpark  parking info:  Ample parking is available on the grounds of Artpark. It is advised to park in Artpark’s Lower Lots (via South Fourth Street) for Mainstage performances. Gates to theater open one hour prior to the show. Click here for a map of parking lots.   Artpark’s Outdoor Amphitheater opens to the public at 4 pm on event nights, and can be accessed via the Upper Park’s Portage Road entrance off of Center Street or through South Fourth Street nearest the Mainstage Theater.   Artpark’s Upper and Lower Lots both feature designated parking spaces for disabled patrons. Since these spots are limited, it is advised that patrons requiring these amenities arrive early.   There is a $10 parking fee (Lower Lot) / $8 (Upper Lot) during scheduled Outdoor Amphitheater events. There is a $6-$10 parking fee during scheduled Mainstage Theater events depending on the concert event.

Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor –  This is a pay venue.  $10 in advance, $20 at the gate. Click Here for ticket info and sales.

ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY EVENT ORGANIZERS.

June

7th – Free – Thursday at the Harbor – The Cult

14th-  Free -  Thursday at the Harbor – Fitz and the Tantrums

19th – $$$$ -  First Niagara Bank  Tuesdays @ New York State Artpark - Kansas

20th – Free – Coor’s Light Wednesdays @ NYS Artpark -  Ziggy Marley

20th- Free – Wednesday’s  Live At Larkin  – Hot Club of Buffalo & After Hours

21st- Free -   Thursday at the Harbor - Built to Spill and Matthew Sweet

26th – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Foreigner

27th - Free –  NYS Artpark – Tokyo Police Club

27th- Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin – Dive House Union and Jony Jones Band

28th – Free -   Thursday at the Harbor - Fountains of Wayne

29th -Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor –  $10/$20 – Sam Roberts Band and Grace Potter & The Nocturals

30th – Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor –  $10/$20 -  moe. and Conspirator

29th – Free -   Canal Concert Series, Lockport, NY - Gov’t Mule, Sheepdogs, Handsomejack

July

3rd – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Huey Lewis & The News

5th-  Free -  Thursday at the Harbor - Arrested Development

6th – Free -    Canal Concert Series -  Eddie Money, Stacy Clark

7th – Free -   Hard Rock Cafe, Niagara Falls, NY – The Guess Who

10th -  $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Sublime with Rome

11th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larking - Son of the Sun & Stacy Clark

11th – Free – NYS Artpark – Lowest of the Low

12th- Free -   Thursday at the Harbor - Seether

13th –  Free – Canal Concert Series – Rik Emmett

14th-  Free – Hard Rock Cafe –  Grateful Dead music by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

15th – Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor – $10/$20 -  Feist

17th – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Yes with Prochul Harum

18th – Free – NYS Artpark – The Trews with ill Scarlet

18th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - Grace Stumberg & Dee Adams

19th- Free -  Thursday at the Harbor - Young the Giant

20th- Free –   Canal Concert Series – Big Wreck

21st- Free -   Hard Rock Cafe – Sloan

24th – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Heart

25th – Free – NYS Artpark – Citizen Cope

25th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - Peter Case & Whitford-Winsick

26th – Free-  Thursday at the Harbor - Arkells and Gomez

27th-  Free- Canal Concert Series – Theory of a Deadman

28th – Free- Hard Rock Cafe – Talas

31st - $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Steve Miller Band

August  1st – Free – NYS Artpark – O.A.R. with Rebelution

1st – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - Babik & Brian Wheat

2nd – Free- Thursday at the Harbor - The Jesus and Mary Chain

3rd – Free- Canal Concert Series – 54-40, Hollerado

4th – Free- Hard Rock Cafe – K C and the Sunshine Band

7th – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – Peter Frampton

8th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - South Buffalo Night w/ the Willies, The Leftovers and more

9th- Free- Thursday at the Harbor - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones with special guest Ron Hawkins and the Do Good Assassins

10th- Free- Canal Concert Series – George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Tom Hambridge

11th – Free- Hard Rock Cafe – Finger Eleven

14th – $$$$- NYS Artpark – Sheryl Crow

15th – Free – Wednesday’s LIve At Larkin - The Rockaz & Gruvology

16th – Free- Thursday at the Harbor - Salt-N-Pepa

17th – Free- Canal Concert Series – Kenny Wayne Sheppard

21st- Free- NYS Artpark – Roger Hodgson of Supertramp

22nd – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - Chris Nathan & Caitlin and the Jamie Moses Band

23rd – Free- Thursday at the Harbor - Matt Nathanson

24th- Free- Canal Concert Series – The Tea Party, Melia Maccarone

28th- $$$$ – NYS Artpark – The Machine performs Pink Floyd

29th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - School of Rock w/ Alison Pipitone, Eric Crittenden, Music is Art & WNY music students

31st- Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor –  $10/$20 - The J. Geils Band

September

1st – Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor – $10/$20 -   LL Cool J featuring DJ Z-Trip

4th – $$$$ – NYS Artpark – The Charlie Daniels Band

5th- Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - Aqueous & Free Henry

12th- Free – Wednesday’s LIve At Larkin -Buffablog Night w/Andrew J Reimers CPX, Bryan Johnson & Family, Brad Gower

19th – Free – Wednesday’s Live At Larkin - The Ragbirds & Chilharmonic Orchestra

Nine months ago, I and an associate set out on a mission.  We were two residents of  the 80 mile wide Niagara (River) Region.We advocated for travel, tourism, trade and development on both sides of the river in the name of Bi-National Cooperation.  We believe that there is tremendous potential for shared success and growth between the long time, 200 years, peaceful USA and Canadian neighbors along the Niagara River.   We visited business people, tourism people, government people, hotel people, and transportation people.  We met with over forty influential people and groups on both sides of the river.  We attended development and business forums. And in the process, we also found a number of people were not willing to speak with lowly, non-moneyed, non-connected citizens.

Talking with people you find they do want change, want action, want development, want jobs,  want international stature but they want YOU to do it for them.  For every single complaint and followup request to assist us,  you hear ”I don’t have time,”  “I’m not political,” “Nothing will change,” etc.  I personally find this rather disheartening.

Check out the Niagara Region expats in the Sun Belt states, where they hide in their air-conditioned homes throughout their unbearably hot summers or run away up here to escape.  They are more than happy to promote their new abodes to anyone and everyone who will listen while up here on their 4 month summer hiatus from tropical heat.  We, one the other hand,  hide in heated homes during our rarely below 10 degree winter weather travel down south and join in if not even start daily rounds of bashing the community instead of  trying to improve it or promote  our considerable attributes.

I’m not a geneticist or physician, but, there must be some type of genetically developed negativity gene that is embedded in this area.

When we got started, our first thought was -  we shared one of the world’s great geographic and geological treasures.  We also have historic sites, wineries,  Niagara Falls, water activities, culture, architecture, sporting events, and museums to go along with it.  A community effort to promote the area would certainly  make absolute sense to everyone.   It appears we were wrong and our airports tell the story about where you can finds our heads.

The area has two airports, Niagara Falls International  and Buffalo International.  Niagara’s airport has an 11,000ft main runway.  Any aircraft that can fly today has the ability to land there without trouble.  Buffalo’s main runway is smaller at 8800ft.  So it would make sense to  develop long range tourism into Niagara and domestic tourism via Buffalo each feeding the Niagara Region.   What do we end up getting?  Dozens of flights to New York City and Florida taking  American and Canadian locals to those areas while we make no effort to attract them and their tourist dollars to our locale.  That is pretty darn sad when you consider there are people in NYC will to pay upwards of $480 for a ONE DAY day drive by visit to the Falls only – Click here.

I really wonder what the game plan is for the various Chambers of Commerce, Developmental Agencies, Buffalo-Niagara Enterprise, etc.  They don’t target any markets for featured travel packages.  You can’t go online and buy a 3-4-5-6-7 day tour package for the area.  And you won’t see a “Visit US” add anywhere in anyone’s media.  What is the problem?  If your don’t promote, they won’t come.  Advertising works.  The proof is in the pudding.  Just check all the travel packages promotions that you see on television or read in the newspapers for Disney World, Universal Studios, Las Vegas, Texas, etc.

I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that  the residents of those areas speak nothing but praises for their communities because they know if you come, you will spend money, they will have jobs and money (your money), to spend.

There really needs to be a community effort.  If the citizens started putting pressure on their elected officials, they will put pressure on their business associates, and maybe, just maybe, we will see some meaningful development.

I was not even aware that the City of Buffalo was a Sister-City of Bursa, Turkey.  I am very familiar with it as I have had a life long interest in that region of the world going back to me undergraduate days in college when I studied History and Government.  I centered my studies on the Middle-East, SubSaharan Africa and South Asia.  As the narrator of the video below will tell you, Bursa is a very old center of the Turkish world as capitol of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Bursa remains one of Turkey’s great cities and Turkey possesses one of the fastest growing national economies in the world and is gaining influence in the world it has not seen in over 100 years. Exactly to kind of place where intelligent local businessmen can participate in this economy both exporting and importing.  It also has a burgeoning middle class that travels and a highly rated national airline, Turkish, which services nearby Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada.  We should be inviting Turkish travelers to visit the Niagara Falls region.

And like the residents of the Buffalo area, they love THEIR brand of football and their club - Bursaspor, nicknamed Yeşil İnciler (the Green Pearls),

So if you have a half an hour of free time, watch the attached video on Bursa presented by EbruTV Europa.

It is easier to pull a chain than to push one.  The problem with Western New York is that we don’t have anyone pulling the chain.

It started eight months ago on Sept. 15th. 2011 when Attorney Jean Gittler and I met at the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council  forum held at Niagara County Community College to discuss issues of interest to area residents in attendance.  At the forum the main talking points revolved around Tourism and and Agricultural concerns.  Tourism of course because of Niagara Falls, the River, the Gorge, the Casino, and the Historic sites.  Agriculture because benefit the constant talk promoting the notion that this is a blue collar community, we actually have a multibillion dollar agricultural environment centered around, Fruit Orchards, Wineries, Potatoes, Onions, Beef, Dairy and Cheeses.

I had the opportunity to address the group with concerns regarding the poor condition of the local state parks and the fact that there are 8 magnificent hiking trails all along the Niagara River Gorge stretching seven miles from the Rainbow Bridge up to the Artpark State Park in the Village of Lewiston.  Some of the trails have not been adequately maintained since the 1930s.  My belief is that there are millions of hikers around the world who would come to the area to walk these from easy to difficult, trails ans receive a certificate for the effort.

Jean on the other hand spoke of the great number of Canadian visitors who cross the border to shop virtually every day of the year and sell out hotel rooms over the weekends and particularly during holiday seasons.  She wonder why no one has ever attempted to sell out neighbor actual packages with coupons and other enticements to visit the local restaurants, theaters, museums, art galleries, and other cites.  She wondered how can we decide we cannot afford to advertise to attract additional revenues.  After all the television and radio is filled with commercials for Fallsview Casino, Marineland and Game Farm, Niagara Wine Trail, Toronto Weekends, etc.

We spoke afterwards and decided to interject ourselves into the picture as citizens interested in seeing the community along with the Canadian side of the border.  We wanted to find out why it was that with Niagara Falls, the Erie Canal, the Welland Canal, Bi-National Wineries and Wine Trails, three 18th Century European style fortresses, World Class fresh water fishing, Architecture, 3 major amusement parks, professional sports, golfing, and near weekly music-food-arts-ethic festivals we do not market ourselves as a destination.

Since September 15th we have spoken with:

Sam Ferraro, Michael Casale, Susan Langdon, Andrea Klyczek of the Niagara County Center for Economic Development; Kim Minkel, William Vanacek and Pascal Cohen or the NFTA;  Jeffery R. Izzo, Chief of Political and Economic Section, U.S. Consulate General, Toronto, Canada;  Edgar Ramirez, a New York City Based European Tour Operator; Ken Walsh, Commercial Attaché – U.S. Commercial Service – Moscow;  S7 (Formerly Sibir) Airlines Russia;  Emerson Barr and Buffalo Sister-Cities; Buffalo-Dortmund (Germany) -  Drohobych & Horlivka (Ukraine) Sister Cities – Tver (Russia) Sister Cities Groups;  Elizabeth Pelton of the Sheraton at the Falls;  Rep. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Congress;  Dr. Gary Praetzel, Dean Niagara University College of Hospital and Tourism; Renee Simonian of New York State Tourism (not affiliated with New York State Government);  A. Peter Snodgrass, Project Director for Rep. Hochul; Alisa Colatarchi, Chris Sasiadek, Casework for Rep. Hochul;  Chief of Staff to NYS Senator George Maziarz; NYS Senator Mark Grisanti;  Vincent Gaughan, Business Development Eastern Europe-Russia-Central Asia;  Cody Meyers, Deputy Regional Director for Senator Chuck Schumer; Helga Honey, Administrator of the Bi-National Tourism Alliance;   NYS Assemblyman Sean Ryan, Jennifer Ferguson, Direcotr of Marketing for Fallsview Casino;  Len O’Connor, Airport Manager, Niagara District Airport, and various managers for  Days Inn, Hilton Hotel and Suites, Double Tree by Hilton, Sheraton Four Points, Ramada Inn, Embassy Suites,  Sheraton at the Falls, Old Fort Niagara, Freedom Run Winery, and Becker Farms.  A number of big name local leaders would not meet with us.

What we have found is that there is interest but the local chain has too many links making it both impossible to push and extremely difficult to pull.  This area is Balkanized with too many groups being served by too many organizations each acting in their own self-interest and job protection.  As a result people will talk to you on a limited basis but will never give you any follow up.  You can present ideas, but, again there will be no followup.  They will tell you what you want to hear, and then you will never hear from them again.  This is quite disturbing since there is so much public money involved in the development process and it is even more disturbing by the fact that businesses directly involved in travel, tourism, culture, arts and dining don’t care to spend any money on advertising themselves to attract more attention and business.

In my estimation  we have a serious problem on our hands.  We don’t really recognize the potential for the area.  Business people look for reasons for an idea to will fail instead of focusing on how to make something cooperatively succeed.  Niagara Country does not care to cooperate with Erie County and vice-verse, the cities are suspicious of the suburbs and vice versa, the Republicans are suspicious of the Democrats and vice versa, and Americans are suspicious of the Canadians, and vice versa.

We just don’t get it and we must put our petty “protect my turf jealousies” aside for the sake of community health.  India’s Trade Wings Institute, presented this startling discovery and the Bi-National Niagara Region really needs to take heed.

Impact of tourism

As an industry, the impact of tourism is manifold. Tourism industry nourishes a country’s economy, stimulates development process, restores cultural heritage, and helps in maintaining international peace and understanding.

Tourism at present is India’s third largest export industry and the forex earnings is estimated to be about Rs.9186 cores (approx Us $3928 million) in 1995-96.

Employment potential

The most significant feature of the tourism industry is the capacity to generate large scale employment opportunities even in backward areas, specially to women, both educated and uneducated. Another important feature of tourism is that it contributes to national integration of the people who live in different regions of the country with diverse cultures and languages.

Tourism is the greatest!

Tourism, the world’s biggest industry!
What about energy, manufacturing or agriculture?

A survey of 400 policy and opinion makers in 20 countries placed these and three other industries ahead of tourism in global economic contribution, but recently gathered statistics tell a different story.

As a contributor to the global economy, tourism has no equal.

Tourism employs 204 million people worldwide or one in every nine workers, 10.6 percent of the global workforce.
Tourism is the world’s leading economic contributor, producing an incredible 10.2 percent of the world’s gross national product.
Tourism is the leading producer of tax revenues at US$655 billion.
Tourism is the world’s largest industry in terms of gross output approaching US$304 trillion
Tourism accounts for 10.9 percent of all consumer spending, 10.7 percent of all capital investment and 6.9 percent of all government spending

If we don’t take this message to heart and work together instead in the best interest of your little piece of the pie, then we will never grow through participation in one of the world’s great growth markets – TOURISM.