Millions of Visitors Come to Niagara Falls Each Year
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world. Over 20 million tourists visit Niagara Falls each year. In this post, we break down the number of visitors on the American and Canadian sides of the border and discuss the difficulty of accurately counting how many tourists visit Niagara Falls each year.
For the year 2022, the number of visitors has begun to rebound from the international border crossing closures that affected tourism all around the world.
Accurately counting the number of visitors to Niagara Falls can be challenging, as the falls are split between the United States and Canada, and there are no gates or ticket sales to measure the total number of visitors accurately.
In 2022, According to Niagara Falls Tourism Association, Niagara Falls, Ontario, hosts approximately 13 million visitors per year, and according to New York State Parks, Niagara Falls State Park in New York received over 9 Million Visitors putting the total combined international visitor count at over 22 Million Visitors for Niagara Falls.
With over 125 million occupants of North America living within a day’s drive of Niagara Falls, it is no wonder that one of the world’s Natual Wonders receives so many visitors.
Canada’s Most Famous Natural Attraction
According to Niagara Economic Development, The Niagara Region, home to attractions such as Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Shaw Festival, the Niagara Wine Route, and Canada’s largest casino, consistently draws a significant number of tourists. Each year, more than 13 million visitors contribute to the region’s annual tourism revenue of $2 billion. This income plays a crucial role in the local economy, with an indirect output of $69 million resulting from every $100 million increase in direct tourism revenue.
According to the Niagara Economic Development webpage, of the approximately 13 million annual visitors to Ontario’s Niagara Region, trip motivators are as follows:
| Reason for travel | Number of visitors to Niagara Region |
|---|---|
| Pleasure | 7,710,000 |
| Visiting friends and relatives | 3,500,000 |
| Shopping | 316,000 |
| Business | 475,000 |
| Personal | 870,000 |
Of the 13 million Visitors to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, 3 Million are estimated to come from the U.S. side of the border, and 1 million are arriving from overseas.
Niagara Falls State Park New York
Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States.
As America’s first state park, established in 1885, Niagara Falls State Park tries to fuse tourism with conservation. Designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, this 400-acre park encapsulates the majesty of Niagara Falls, the international border-straddling waterfalls. Attractions include the Cave of the Winds, Prospect Point Park Observation Tower, and the embarkation point for the iconic Maid of the Mist.
New York State Parks Commission estimates almost 9.5 million annual visitors.
New York State Park Visitation for 2022- Niagara Region
| Park | Number of Visitors in 2022 |
|---|---|
| Niagara Reservation | 9,384,000 |
| Buckhorn | 41,000 |
| Golden Hill | 50,000 |
| Big 6 Marina | 51,000 |
| Four Mile Creek | 66,000 |
| Deveaux Woods | 79,000 |
| Reservoir ST PK | 119,000 |
| Joseph Davis ST Pk | 149,000 |
| Wilson-Tuscarora ST PK | 213,000 |
| Evangola ST PK | 272,000 |
| Woodlawn | 274,000 |
| Artpark | 288,000 |
| Buffalo Harbor | 298,000 |
| Devils Hole | 299,000 |
| Beaver Island | 324,000 |
| Whirlpool ST PK | 389,000 |
| Fort Niagara | 448,000 |
| Knox Farm | 684,000 |
WorldAtlas: Most Popular Destinations
WorldAtlas, one of the world’s most regarded authorities on geography, lists Niagara Falls as number 5 in the ranking of the World’s Most Popular Tourist Attractions.
According to WorldAtlas, the world’s top tourist attractions often share many characteristics:
- -Universal Appeal
- -Suitable For All Ages
- -Accessibility
- -Located Near Large Populations
- -Availability of Hotels, Restaurants, and Airports
Niagara Falls Takes 4th Place as Americas Most FamousTourist Attraction: Accoring to YouGov.com
YouGov.com has listed Niagara Falls as the 4th Most Famous Tourist Attraction according to ongoing surveys of respondents in the United States.
Fame is defined by the % of people who have heard of a tourist attraction.
The results are from survey data that is updated quarterly.
YouGov.UK Lists Niagara Falls as the UK’s Third Most Famous Tourist Atraction
As an undisputed natural wonder of the world, Niagara Falls has universal name recognition.
Survey participants in the United Kingdom had a very favorable view of Niagara Falls.
YouGov UK lists Niagara Falls in 3rd place in a field of 238 Famous Tourist Attractions. As you can see below, Niagara Falls holds its position year after year as a popular and famous tourist attraction.
What Draws People to Niagara Falls
The American Side of the Border:
Niagara Falls State Park
Starting with the American Side of the Falls, one can find Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the United States, and stand just feet from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.
A recommended activity is to ride the Maid of the Mist, a boat that takes visitors to the base of the falls, providing an unforgettable experience.
For those seeking thrills, the Cave of the Winds is a popular attraction that takes visitors to the bottom of the Niagara Gorge to feel the immense power of the water.
To enjoy panoramic views of the falls and the surrounding area, visitors can head to the Observation Tower at Prospect Point.
Aquarium of Niagara
On the American side, visitors can also visit the Aquarium of Niagara to explore the underwater world and see the famous Peruvian Humboldt penguins.
Hotels and Restaurants
The American side of Niagara Falls offers many affordable hotels and traditional restaurants found in an older industrial city setting. Unfortunately, hotels on the American side can not offer the views found on the Canadian Side of the border.
Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino
You can not miss the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, located just a few blocks from the entrance to Niagara Falls State Park. The Casino has 604 hotel rooms and several dining options for guests. For evening fun, the Casino offers live entertainment and a large casino.
Every night Niagara Falls is illuminated with a serene light show, and many evenings in the tourism season, a fireworks display over the falls can cap off the evening of sightseeing.
Some Question New York State Parks 9-Million Visitor Number
These multi-million visitor numbers are subject to some controversy in Niagara Falls NY.
The Buffalo News interviewed stakeholders in Niagara Falls, New York, and found that many local businesses need to be more convinced of the numbers produced by New York State Parks.
Some residents of Niagara Falls, NY, point out that a 9 Million plus annual visitor number would mean that on any given day the city should see thousands of visitors and hotel stays. Residents of Niagara Falls NY are doubtful of these numbers and point out that during the off-season Niagara Falls State Park can have a very modest amount of visitors, especially in the winter.
The Canadian Side of the Border
Queen Victoria Park
Crossing over the Niagara River to the Canadian side, visitors can witness spectacular views of Niagara Falls. The number one destination on the Canadian side of the border is Queen Victoria Park, with full panoramic views of the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls as the mist from the falls rains down 24/7.
Table Rock and the New Tunnel
Located nearby is the famous Table Rock House Restaurant, and the newest attraction, “The Tunnel”, which allows visitors the opportunity to see inside a historic power generation plant.
Skylon Tower
Another famous attraction on the Canadian side is the Skylon Tower, which offers 360-degree views of the falls and the surrounding landscape. For a unique experience, visitors can dine at the top of the tower as the restaurant rotates for views f Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and Toronto.
Casinos
For those who are feeling lucky, the Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara offer world-class dining and entertainment’s biggest names.
Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill is a short walk from the falls and features a bustling street filled with shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions galore. You will find everything from haunted houses and wax museums to arcades and dinosaur mini-golf, and a multi-level go-cart track.
Hotels and Restaurants
On the Canadian side, you will find hotels for all budgets. Opposed to the American side of the border, the Canadian side offers many more hotels and top-class restaurants. It is possible to reserve one of the many hotel rooms with panoramic views of the falls.
As you head north on the Niagara River Parkway, visitors find many spots of interest as they travel along the Niagara Gorge.
Niagara on the Lake
Finally, as you travel alongside some of Niagara’s finest orchards and vineyards, you come to the end of the Niagara Parkway and arrive in the town of Niagara on the lake, which is a picture-perfect historic town offering quaint shops, restaurants, pubs, and a selection of bed and Breakfast’s
As the sun sets in Niagara Falls, Canada, visitors once again stroll along the paths of Queen Victoria Park to take in the views of the illuminated falls and fireworks.
