From the Niagara Falls Review: American pastures are looking a lot greener for Canadian shoppers after the loonie opened trading Wednesday at par with the U.S. dollar. While parity may be nothing more than a psychological milestone, the northward march of the Canadian dollar against the greenback could see more people and jobs heading south….
From the Niagara Falls Review: The return of GO Transit trains to Niagara Falls is “absolutely wonderful,” says Niagara Falls woman Denise Kurek, one of the first passengers aboard last summer’s “excursion train” to Toronto as the provincial agency tested weekend service between Ontario’s two most popular tourism destinations. “We don’t like driving to Toronto,”…
From the Niagara Falls Review: The weather wasn’t the only thing that was dreary in December. The latest figures from Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture show border crossings into Ontario from the United States were down 12.4% compared to the same period the previous year. Same day travel was down 15.5% while overnight crossings…
From the Niagara Falls Review: A Niagara Falls vacation was a little cheaper in 2009 than it was the year before as hotel room rates dropped last year by about 5%, according to Hotels.ca,a hotel reservation agency that tracks prices across Canada. Lower room rates is a trend that should continue this summer as the…
From the Buffalo News: The Binational Tourism Alliance, with offices in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Ont., is not a marketing group. Instead, it aims to break down barriers to tourism and cultural development. Arlene White, the executive director, said the border should not be an impediment, “just the way it doesn’t stop the Falls from…
From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce is reflecting on business activity during 2009 and wondering how the year before us will play out. An old friend told me once there are always possibilities. But we have to find them. We hope in 2010 we will find new possibilities on working…
From the Niagara Falls Review: The federal government won’t move ahead with its plan to incorporate biometric technology into passports until Canadians have had a chance to weigh in on it. Pamela Stephens, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister and Attorney General Rob Nicholson, said Friday the minister’s office has been assured by Passport Canada that…
From the Niagara Falls Review: Tourism officials in Niagara will speak with one voice as they try to attract more marketing cash to the region. Industry groups have agreed on a partnership they hope Ontario will accept as a regional tourism organization. The provincial government announced the creation of 13 new tourism regions, including one…
From the Toronto Star: Tourism industry officials in Toronto and Niagara Falls say they are shocked to learn the U.S. State Department plans to raise passport fees by as much as 35 per cent. A new adult passport would cost $135, up from $100. Since last summer, passports have been mandatory to cross the Canada-U.S….
From the Niagara Falls Review: The Niagara Parks Commission wasn’t the only business to struggle in 2009. The tourism industry as a whole had to scratch and claw its way through a year hampered by unseasonable weather, new passport requirements and a deadly influenza strain. “It’s extremely bleak out there,” said Niagara Falls Tourism chairman…