Why has Niagara Falls Ontario become a more important tourist destination than it's American neighbour?

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Alex

Americas side of the falls has really went under compaired to Canada's. This is because of :
a) The view is better ( on the Canadian side)
b)The economy ( Niagara Falls New York is a poor area)
c)The Curnecy ( Almost every american would rather get more "bang for their buck" because the American money is worth more in Canada.

Tree

Onatrio has the better falls (the Horseshoe), and a lot of better Falls attractions, excluding Goat Island on the US side.

Ontario invested more into the tourist trap industry. They have the wax museum, Ripleys, etc. The US side has less as far as that is concerned, with Buffalo and it's former industry surrounding the area.

Also, at least when I was young, lots of 19 and 20 year old Americans would drive across the boarder to legally drink.

Randy B

From the American side of the falls it is very difficult to see anything unless you go out on the islands. The best view has always been from the Canadian side of the river and as such the majority of the tourist industry has always been on the Canadian side. It's really not a matter of why is became more important...it always was just because of geography.

Bob123

The Canadian side of the border has a much better view of the falls.

SteveN

When you see tourist brochures and television advertising for Niagara Falls, they normally depict the Horsheshoe Falls in all its glory, and that is the Canadian section of the falls. Even textbooks like a North American atlas will show that section of the falls.

Although the American falls drop about the same distance, they do not have the same amount of water going over the edge, and the view is a lot more obstructed of the scenic horsheshoe area, so people are less excited about going to Niagara Falls (NY) to see it.

Of course, the Canadians are pretty smart about the whole thing and we know a cash cow when they see it. So all of the Niagara Falls region on the Canadian side is focused on tourism. The Canadian side is full of hotels overlooking the falls, restaurants, souvenir shops, a wax museum, pay-to-use binoculars. Everything works if you have the right marketing and PR teams.

However, the Niagara peninsula is not just about the falls like some other people have mentioned. They also have an excellent fertile soil that is ideal for growing grapes, and many wineries have popped up there, even with the shorter growing season that Canada has. Ice wines have become popular in the region (wine made from grapes left on the vine after the first frost) as well as tours of the winemaking facilities.

Also in the Niagara area there is Brock Monument, a historic site where the Battle of Queenston Heights occurred between British and American troops. There are periodic re-enactments of the battle, and you used to be able to climb the tower and look out on all the surrounding lands.

Not far from that is Niagara Botanical Gardens, a beautiful place to stroll and look at the various flowers and plants that are in bloom. I believe some people even have their wedding photos taken there.

In nearby Wellland, there is the canal and the St. Lawrence Seaway locks system, where you can see a large tanker or just a small sailboat be raised or lowered as it makes its way from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to Lake Michigan (or vice versa).

So I would say that it is a more important tourist destination in Canada because we tend to have more to see, and it is marketed better. If New York State were to build a catwalk or perhaps let Six Flags open an amusement park on Goat Island, along with some hotels, you might see a similar tourist attraction from the US side.

Heather T

Beautiful views, better casinos, better attractions, better hotels. those are the reasons.

jebber

Has it?

-Everyone I know says the falls are more dramatic in Canada

girl

i agree with jebber

The Mrs.

The Canadian side simply has more perks then the American side. Over the past several years Canadians have been pumping more money into their side of the falls, where as the American side has only recently been working on improving theirs.

Canadian Side vs American Side
o Canadian side has better views
o The Canadian dollar tends to be appealing to many tourists
o Advertising - the Ontario Government promotes Niagra Falls as its primary tourist spot where New York State promotes New York City as its primary tourist spot and Niagra Falls secondary
o The Canadian side is said to have more hotels then the american side
o The Canadian side tends to get a lot more group tours coming through vs the american side
o The Canadian side has some big attactions such as Marine Land, Game Farm, Maple Leaf Village and a tourist complex comprising an amusment park, shopping center, restaurant and hotels
o The Canadian side also has a good bus system that transports tourists from one attraction to another. You can park your car and catch a shuttle to watever spot you want.

The American's however are starting to pump more money into their side of the falls. The article mentioned that they are looking to build a Theme Park which could possibly increase the tourists on the American side:
"The theme park, which would be built with a combination of private and government funds, is planned for an 18-acre site near the Niagara Falls Convention Center. It would include a skating rink, rides and a theater, said Mr. Steiner of the Chamber of Commerce."

chinesepianist192

Your question is worded weirdly, but whatever.
Well, as like a million other people already mentioned, the view *is* nicer on the Canadian side. It's also just ...idk, nicer (for lack of a better word) in general on the Canadian side.
It's still not terrible on the American side..but I guess another thing is that people wanna say, "Oh yeah, I've been to Canada!" haha =P

Saman K

Canadian side is way better! it has more things and i agree wid all of you ppl who commented favouring canada. you have a better view of the falls in canada then in buffalo. besides there is a bridge so you can just cross between the 2 countries in under 10 minutes! <3 hope i helped.

BEDLAMB

The view is the main reason. But also, have you ever seen Niagra Falls, NY? It's a hell hole.

Jebber, Ontario is Canada.

David, there is nothing to see in that part of
Canada except for Toronto. But as far as scenic beauty Niagra's all you have, period. I know, I lived there.

bc it's way cooler in Canada, the US is dirty and dangerous

E.P. Clapton

Advertisement differences. America's got a lot more tourism attractions, while Canada's short with CN Tower, the tip of the Rocky's and Motreal with the PE island.

David w

Better view,
Canada rules
America Sucks.

Honestly ha ha..why not visit the ontario part and then look at the rest of the scenic part of canada. Most people want the chance to leave the country anyways...so they get to leave the country..visit a different culture and still get to see the niagra falls

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