In Niagara Falls, Ont., high gas prices aren’t keeping tourists away but border confusion still a worry

Hovering fuel costs might imply some folks will keep near dwelling this summer season, however Niagara Falls, Ont., is to date seeing no scarcity of tourists because the tourism season picks up.

This week, travellers visiting Niagara Falls mentioned they’re discovering methods to price range across the excessive price of gasoline when planning a getaway.

Visiting from Arizona late final week, Leepsa and Jana Mavhavika mentioned they’re not letting excessive fuel costs change their plans however determined to make use of extra public transportation to economize throughout their journey.

“[Gas prices are] very excessive, however we all the time wished to go to this place,” Leepsa mentioned. “After the pandemic, we all the time wished to go to some locations as a result of now we have not travelled so much.”

“It is so stunning right here,” she added.

Marie Mbuyi, who was on her first out-of-town journey along with her daughter, determined to take a tour bus from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Mbuyi’s husband would drive to affix them the following day, she mentioned.

Although fuel costs are excessive, Mbuyi mentioned it would not have an effect on how they journey and dwell their lives.

“We have been caught inside for the previous two years, so this summer season I am simply going to sacrifice,” Mbuyi mentioned. “We simply wish to benefit from the summer season this summer season. So if we find yourself being broke, it’s what it’s.”

Whereas the realm is to date seeing many vacationers undeterred, the mayor of Niagara Falls says the price of journey is a fear. Gasoline costs have climbed upward since December. This week, the typical worth of fuel in Canada topped $2 a litre, a report excessive. 

“The overwhelming majority of those who come to Niagara Falls are by the rubber tire,” Mayor Jim Diodati mentioned in an interview with CBC Information simply earlier than the beginning of the lengthy weekend. 

“Most individuals drive as a result of we’re inside a day’s drive of virtually half the inhabitants of North America — so excessive fuel costs are a priority,” he mentioned.

In a nationwide survey carried out by the Canadian Vehicle Affiliation in November 2021 that noticed responses from 2,009 Canadians, 29 per cent mentioned fuel costs would not impression their driving, and 36 per cent mentioned simply “just a little.” 

However that was lengthy earlier than report costs had been reached. 

Discovering silver linings

Native operators have been resilient find options that hold bringing guests again, says CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, Janice Thompson.

“Our operators, they’re so tenacious, they’re so adaptable and so they’re so accustomed to driving with the market,” Thompson mentioned.

Throughout the pandemic, Thompson mentioned the tourism and journey business in the realm struggled identical to another vacation spot on the planet however operators have made essentially the most of it. 

“We’re making the most effective of what has been made out there to us, when it comes to when restrictions had been lifted,” Thompson mentioned.

“We tailored what was on supply and we had been capable of host guests at various ranges. So Niagara Falls, it is all the time right here and it will all the time be right here for folks.”

If something, excessive fuel costs may imply vacationers could also be inclined to remain longer to profit from their journey, Thompson mentioned.

Thompson additionally pointed to new transit choices for travellers from the Higher Toronto Space.

“The opposite nice sunbeam that we have seen not too long ago is the GO practice goes to be coming immediately from Toronto to Niagara Falls,” Thompson mentioned.

“A household of 5 can truly journey for $62 return. And that features not solely their practice journey each methods, however their [local bus shuttle service] WEGO transportation inside the vacation spot,” she mentioned.

“So there are different choices — it is not all about driving your automobile.”

Thompson mentioned that Niagara Falls tourism has but to be impacted by the fuel costs and so they’re not listening to folks backing down from their journey plans simply but. 

Tourism from U.S. nonetheless down

With border closures through the pandemic, Niagara Falls tourism shifted its advertising and marketing technique to concentrate on the Ontario and Quebec markets, Thompson mentioned.

Travellers coming throughout the border from the USA are at a decrease charge than earlier years, she mentioned, as American guests get used to the journey necessities to enter Canada launched through the pandemic.

Whirlpool Jet Boat Excursions proprietor John Kinney mentioned that whereas pandemic restrictions have gone away, the tourism business continues to be dealing with “some actual bottlenecks” on the subject of U.S. guests.

“Traditionally, 60 per cent of the visitation to Niagara Falls is rubber tire market from the U.S.,” Kinney mentioned.

“There’s nonetheless a variety of apprehension about lengthy backups on the border and do I’ve the right documentation? Will I be subjected to quarantine? These are the issues that we’re having to work by means of and ensure that the visiting public acknowledges that we’re open for enterprise,” he mentioned.

“As People turn into extra accustomed to what the necessities are on the border, I feel folks will chill out extra,” Thompson mentioned.

“I feel individuals are discovering that when they’ve skilled it, they’ve gotten by means of it, I hope that we see that upswing just a little bit,” she mentioned, “however for the time being, we’re properly served by the market that now we have focused.”

Kinney mentioned that apprehension on the border is just not his solely concern on the subject of American guests, however the price of fuel may make or break somebody’s option to make the journey to Niagara Falls from the U.S.

“It is not the 20 minute or hour journey that I am terrified of. It is our markets from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Rochester, Syracuse, Boston — these one tank away markets, when now it prices a few $100 to replenish your tank,” he mentioned. 

Kinney mentioned that it’s these individuals who might say, ‘I am gonna keep just a little bit nearer to dwelling.’ 

“That is the place our worry is,” he mentioned. 

Nonetheless, the mayor says the realm, which depends closely on tourism, will handle. 

“We have been by means of so many challenges right here in Niagara Falls,” Diodati mentioned.  “From 9/11, SARS, H1N1, mad cow, COVID-19, foreign money fluctuations and now fuel costs. 

“It is like one factor after the following, however I actually imagine that is not going to face in the best way of individuals coming to Niagara Falls,” he mentioned.