tourism

The economic toll of the pandemic shows everywhere, but more so in the hospitality industry, with the lists of laid-off workers, closed hotels and losses of tax revenue locally and across the state.

A longtime attraction at Niagara Falls is introducing two new all-electric, zero-emission vessels to its fleet. Maid of the Mist will carry its first passengers aboard these new boats beginning Tuesday morning.

Usually, this would be the time when there are bonfires on the beaches on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie, traffic building on the Peace Bridge and people talking about Sherkston. Not this year.

Before New York State ordered the shutdown of all bars and restaurants, concerns over the coronavirus were impacting the regional economy. According to Jim Fink of Business First, during just one day last week a major Buffalo hotel lost $80,000 in bookings due to cancellations. It's likely the tip of the iceberg for what will be mounting financial losses for area businesses.

Niagara Falls, NY is going increasingly upscale, as hoteliers increase the amenities and pieces of their properties, like the Wyndham Garden Inn.

The Niagara Falls Water Board says things are turning around at its troubled Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant became internationally infamous in July of last year, when it dumped black material into the middle of a tourist-filled section of the Niagara River.

In a tourist city like Niagara Falls, ON, a full garbage can is unsightly and perhaps something that will be mentioned when a tourist is back home. Mayor Jim Diodati doesn't want that, especially along the busy Victoria Avenue tourist corridor. The city has a high-tech answer for the challenge and senses it can help earn $50 million for other smart innovations.

Starting in July, Niagara Falls, ON and many tourism centers across the province will have an additional item to buy: marijuana.

New York State is working through its Parks 2020 plan, a $900 million shopping list of renovations and improvements for the state's vast network of parks. Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey says it is working and why parks attendance has risen from 57 million to 69 million this year.

The visitors to some wineries in Niagara County Wednesday will be a little different from the usual. They are workers from other tourist attractions around the county.

The local economy could take a hit in the coming months if tourism drops off. A recent study by Tourism Economics projects that the U.S. will see more than 4 million fewer international visitors because of President Trump's travel bans.

Later this month, "March Madness" returns to Buffalo when the city hosts first- and second-round games of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Local tourism leaders are acting to make sure the city and its businesses are ready.

Some say there's no better cure for cabin fever than snowmobiling. It's big business in New York State. Marketers in the state capital recently launched a campaign to promote winter tourism.