Visit to Niagara Falls is a legend come alive

New Delhi, Jun 19 (UNI) With more and more Indians travelling overseas, thanks to the growing prosperity of the middle class, there is a beeline of tourist promotion organisation scouting for business in the country.

There are often days when two or three will hotsell their wares.

For instance, The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation (NTCC) and Tanzania Tourist Board made a presentation this morning on the potential of their destinations.

Mr John Percy, President and CEO of NTCC, said there has been a 39 per cent increase during 2007 in the number of Indians travelling to the United States and many of them make it a point to visit the magnificient Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls are massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power.

Tourists assemble throughout the year to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of the Falls, the world-class casinos, gaming and dining to intriguing museum collections and fantastic shopping malls.

Mr Percy said the increasing use of Internet, the falling dollar, much larger exposure to the world through the media, the growing prosperity of the middle class are among the numerous reasons which are attracting Indians to visit the Niagara Falls.

While the depreciating dollar has considerable affected the outflow of American tourists to the rest of the world, it has made America cheaper for the world community.

''America is on sale,'' Mr Percy remarked, saying this is pulling Indians to travel more to America.

He said the economic mess of America has been ''sensationalised'' by the media and felt that the chaos created by the sub-prime crisis was nearly over.

While the business community of the US is satisfied by the steps taken by the US administration, more needs to be done to put the economy on rebound.

Niagara receives large number of tourists from countries such as Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Russia, Poland, Hungary and West Asia.

The attractions to visit the Niagara include the famous Maid of the Mist, Whirlpool Jet Boat rides, Old Fort Niagara, Lockport Locks and Erie Canal cruises, the Wine Trail, fashion outlets and air helicopter rides.

The Cave of the Winds entails taking an elevator right down 175 feet to the base of Bridal Veil Falls and walk along the base of the Falls on a series of wooden stairs and decks, especially created during the spring and taken off in the fall.

Niagara Falls region received 1.8 million overseas visitors of which 1,48,000 were Indians. ''Five per cent of the total visitors were Indians in 2007, and we expect this to touch 39 per cent by 2010,'' Mr Percy said.

All and all, the dream destination is truly a legend come alive to a visitor.

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