Signs say passport plan deters visitors to Buffalo Niagara

From the Buffalo News:

Debate over a passport mandate scheduled to take effect next year has confused visitors to the Buffalo Niagara region, and local leaders say this year’s tourist season has already been hurt by the new identification requirements.

While some believe the mandate to carry a passport to cross into the United States from Canada could keep more American tourists on the U.S. side in the short term, they worry it could ultimately hurt the region as a whole.

â€ŔThere’s confusion on a daily basis, and it has been that way and it drives you crazy,” said John Percy, president and CEO of Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. â€ŔI think it’s going to affect the destination overall, just because I don’t think people sometimes realize there’s a Niagara Falls, N.Y., and a Niagara Falls, Canada. They’ll choose another vacation destination that doesn’t have a passport issue.”