“Destination Niagara”: Province of Ontario Plans Theme Park & More

(eap) “I am delighted to introduce the Destination Niagara Strategy, our government’s plan to protect and grow Ontario’s economy by unlocking the full potential of the Niagara Region as a world-renowned tourism destination,” recently stated the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming of the Canadian province of Ontario, Stan Cho. The strategy is based on five pillars: the development of new tourist attractions, the expansion of gaming facilities, wine and culinary tourism, arts and culture, as well as investments in transportation infrastructure.

The Niagara Region in Ontario currently records around 13 million visitors annually, with approximately 40,000 people employed in the local tourism sector; its contribution to the overall economy amounts to around three billion Canadian dollars. In the future, the average length of stay of tourists is to be increased from one to two days to three to four days, and the nationally and internationally popular destination is to be marketed more strongly as a multi-day travel destination. In an official statement, the provincial government estimates the region’s potential annual visitor volume at nearly 25 million guests, doubling the economic impact of tourism in the area.

Photo: Courtesy of Brogent Technologies With regard to new tourist attractions, the strategic plans include, among other projects, an observation wheel as well as the construction of a theme park. An initial development phase, which included the new flying theater “Niagara Takes Flight!” at the Table Rock Welcome Centre that opened in August this year, has already been described as a success: within the first months of operation, the attraction welcomed more than 52,000 visitors, contributing to gross revenues of nearly 1.2 million Canadian dollars. Read all about Niagara Takes Flight!, an o-Ride by turnkey supplier Brogent, in the cover story of our current EAP issue no. 6/2025.

“This is not just an investment in tourism. By investing in the Niagara Region, we are protecting jobs, supporting Ontario’s visitor economy and strengthening the prosperity and growth of our province for generations to come. The success of Niagara is a direct reflection of the success of Ontario and this strategy will ensure the region continues to grow and thrive well into the future,” the provincial government states in its official release. ■