by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Wed December 17, 2025
The Ontario government is looking to expand tourism to the Niagara Region by doubling the number of visitors and length of the average stay, from the current 13 million annual visitors who stay an average of 1.7 days.
The multi-billion dollar strategy, dubbed “Destination Niagara” is built on five pillars: tourism attractions, wine and culinary tourism, arts and culture, transportation development and “world-class” gaming.
“All the big casinos in Las Vegas — we’re serious,” Premier Doug Ford told the Canadian Press in Niagara Falls.
“It’s happening. Get on board. Come and put a proposal in. Come and tell us how you’re going to build a billion-dollar hotel with attractions, with cinemas inside, with live theatre. That’s what we’re looking for,” he says.
In addition to gaming, which presently brings in $500 million a year for the province in gaming revenue, the strategy is eyeing a theme park, an observation wheel in Queen Victoria Park and an electric tram with views of the falls.
Niagara Falls is home to the now-defunct Marineland, property that could be redeveloped as a new theme park. “It used to be the No. 1 tourist attraction in the country, and obviously animal entertainment has fallen out of favour over the last 60 years,” says Niagara Falls mayor Jim Diodati. “But I can tell you we’re working closely with Marineland, with the trustees there, working closely with our government partners to find a soft landing for the animals and to turn that into the economic generator that it once was.”
The government points to the success of the newest Niagara attraction, Niagara Takes Flight, as an example of the public’s appetite for tourist attractions. In its first month, Niagara Takes Flight welcomed more than 52,000 visitors and generated nearly $1.2 million in gross revenue.
The next big development is taking place at the Toronto Power Generating Station. After sitting vacant for 50 years, the new attraction will include a free museum and art gallery, wellness and social spa, craft brewery, theatre, spaces for events and educational programming and Niagara Region’s first-ever five-star boutique hotel. The project is expected to be complete by 2028.
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