Tourism in the Niagara Region: Environmental Impacts and Planning for Sustainable Tourism
Samantha Thyret, MLWS 2023
Tourism, a major global industry, brings economic prosperity but also triggers challenges like environmental harm and cultural disruptions when destinations face excessive visitor numbers, termed "overtourism." The Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada, famous for Niagara Falls, encounters environmental strain due to millions of annual visitors. The region experiences stressors across four areas: permanent environmental change, waste generation, tourist activities, and impacts on local populations, leading to declining ecosystem health. To balance economic benefits with ecosystem preservation, a recommendation suggests Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) develop a sustainable tourism plan. This strategy aims to address future tourism growth, municipal infrastructure, and eco-friendly practices. The plan aims to reconcile the economic significance of tourism with the crucial need to protect local ecosystems, fostering a balance between tourism's benefits and environmental conservation in the region.
