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Niagara Falls
Friday, February 7, 2025
Letter: Tourism needs to be ‘perfectly paired’ with residents’ needs
Opinion. FILE

Dear editor:

Residents of NOTL understand that tourism is a contributing factor to life here and support a shared approach — however, tourism has to be well managed and that depends on the town council.

Traffic congestion and parking are the direct result of tourism. They need to be addressed. Perhaps the funding for all the infrastructure projects required because of tourism should be funded by tourism.

The pressure on the Old Town (and only the Old Town) for more accommodation is driven by tourism and the Chamber’s desire for more growth in tourism.

This has led to the approval of more hotels specifically in the Old Town. We want more people to stay over. That means more accommodation. (We don’t seem to like vacation rentals, so that means even more hotels.)

We now have six ice cream stores on the main street and very little to attract residents anymore. Queen Street is geared toward tourists. Most residents do not shop there if they go there at all. It’s a tourist street with tourist shops and tourist restaurants. It’s make-believe for tourists.

In the Old Town, we are losing the few remaining community-frequented places like Bar Ruffino’s and Willow Cakes & Pastries due to much higher rents in anticipation of greater tourism. I guess they will be replaced with boring chains.

How about the town addressing the congestion on the “shared” path between NOTL and Queenston? Just an accident waiting to happen there. Even though there is an inconspicuous “no motorized vehicles” sign that everyone ignores.

Every time I see the ad “Perfectly Paired,” I am reminded of these issues.

Jackie Bonic
NOTL

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