I’ve written about it before,  I and an associate have spent the past 9 months selling to nothing that this Bi-National region has the potential to be a stand alone tourism destination.  At present it is saddled with the moniker “day-tripper destination.”  That is see the Falls.  Ride the Maid of the Mist, go to a Casino then quickly head on to the next destination.  Local businessmen, elected officials, and planners have locked themselves into the notion that our tourism can only thrive when New York City and Toronto travel and tour agents find it in their hearts to send us international travelers.  Travelers, that is,  who invariably begin their North American vacations with them.

That is quite the shame.  There are enough things to do in the Bi-National Niagara Region to keep visitors occupied for at least a week and not do the same thing repetitively.  We just need to find a way to shake up the entrenched allocation of tourism system under which we are expected to function.

We must find out niche and sell it.  There are plenty of travel niches into which we suitably fit.  Take your pick from the recognized tourism types below and start advocating to all who will listen:

Archeological, Architectural, Arts, Bicycle, Boating, Culinary, Cultural, Day Tripper, Escorted, Festival, Garden, Gaming, Genealogy, Geologic and Park, Ghetto, Heritage, Hiking, Historic, Literary, Military, Musical, Religious,  Rural, Sacred, Scenic, Sports, Walking, Wine.