By Mark Scheer
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
It didn’t matter if they were from Cool, Texas, Bangor, Maine or Polish expatriates living in Wisconsin, they all convened on the region to see the thunderous cataracts of Niagara Falls — but with a Canadian flair.
Looking to catch a glimpse of one of the world’s wonders, more than 20 million tourists travel to Niagara Falls, Ontario, each year. For a number of reasons they pass right through the streets of the Cataract City en route to their Canadian destination.
“It’s much more pretty on this side,” said Chris Kryjak, a Polish citizen who lives in Racine, Wisc., as he was standing in Victoria Park near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls in Ontario. “The view is better and there is a lot more to do.”
Kryjak, who was traveling with his father said they were staying in Ontario and had walked over to the American side Friday.
“Over there it’s really just a park,” he said before listing a handful of attractions they visited on the Canadian side, which included the Maid of the Mist, the Skylon tower and Fallsview Casino.
Kimberly Watson agrees.
“There is a bunch to do during the day and just as much to do at night,” said Watson, who is from Bangor, Maine and is traveling with two friends.
Watson said they drove through Niagara Falls and it looked “kind of depressing,” which prompted them to spend their entire two days in the area on the Canadian side.
Watson’s attitude is something Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. President John Percy is looking to change.
“We are always looking to enhance and to change the perception of the U.S. side,” Percy said. “We want it to be more positive.”
Dorothee Skalde a representative from Niagara Falls (Ontario) Tourism said Victoria Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff of the tourist season, which will see around 15 million people visit our Canadian counterpart through Aug. 31.
Skaldee, who provides assistance to tourists on daily basis said on Saturday she had provided information to travelers from France, America, Asia and a few other European countries.
“I actually haven’t talked to a Canadian today at all,” she said laughing.
As the Canadian side kicked off their tourist season, in the Cataract City, residents celebrated the new Old Falls Street with an all-day festival of events and entertainment.
Percy pointed to the $12 million the state and city invested in revamping the street as a new hook to lure tourists to Niagara Falls.
“The whole strip has been cleaned up. It is now really aesthetically appealing to the visitor and is heading us in a positive and right direction, he said.
Percy said as important as developing the downtown area is, the NTCC sells the natural beauty of Niagara Falls State Park when bringing in tourists to the area.
“People always say ‘oh Canada has a better view’ — they have a panoramic view, they’re always going to have a panoramic view, but nowhere other than in Niagara Falls State Park can you walk up to several different vantage points and have that up close and personal experience with the falls,” Percy said. “That’s unique to us, that’s an exclusive.”
Cool, Texas, resident Janie Hall agreed with Percy when she spoke to the Gazette at Niagara Falls State Park on Saturday, saying she couldn’t believe how close she could get to the cataracts. But when asked where she spent most of her trip, Hall simply pointed across the river.
Percy admitted the Canadian side has a lot going on, but said the American side has many things to offer in its own right.
“We have a lot of positive aspects, too, that we highlight when we are out selling this destination, which we do everyday,” he said.
Percy said as important as it is to attract people exclusively to Niagara Falls USA, one of the NTCC’s goals is to lure visitors from the Canadian side and show them not only Niagara Falls but Niagara County.
“I think there is an opportunity to lure some of those visitors who are sleeping on the Canadian side over to our side,” he said.
Percy said the NTCC is trying to sell potential tourists on the ideas of regionalizing tourism, mentioning Old Fort Niagara and the Erie Canal saying with all of those options there is no reason visitors can’t make a week out of their stay to Niagara Falls.
Which is just what one visitor from Izmir, Turkey is doing. Canan Ceylan said this is her second trip to Niagara Falls, N.Y., which has become the favorite destination of her and her father because of the natural beauty of the state park.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ceylan, who is traveling through the area with her family. “We are going to Lockport for the canal tomorrow.”
Contact reporter Nick Mattera at 282-2311, ext. 2251.
