Expanding Tourism Beyond the Falls with the Destination Niagara Strategy

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, DENSITY, ECONOMY, NIAGARA, NIAGARA FALLS, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, TRANSIT, URBAN,

Leveraging the Tourism Potential of Niagara Falls to Build Upon the Future of Cultural, Entertainment, and Agricultural Tourism in Niagara.

In December 2025, the Province of Ontario launched the Destination Niagara Strategy, a plan intended to position the Niagara Region as a world-class tourism destination while supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening Ontario’s economy. The strategy builds on Niagara’s existing tourism base of more than 13 million annual visitors, a $3 billion tourism industry, and more than 40,000 jobs. 

The strategy highlights several priority initiatives including:

1. Redevelopment of the Toronto Power Generating Station into a boutique hotel & visitor destination;
2. Expansion of hospitality and entertainment offerings, including hotels, casinos, restaurants, & other attractions;
3. Promotion of the Niagara’s internationally recognized wine and culinary sector through agri-tourism;
4. Investment in arts, heritage, & cultural destinations, including assets such as the Shaw Festival; and
5. Improvements to regional transportation connectivity, including highway infrastructure, expanded transit, & upgrades to the Niagara District Airport.

As tourism investment across the Niagara Region continues to expand, planning approvals, land use policy, and regulatory coordination play an important role in enabling new projects to launch.

_________________________

How LANDx Can Help

LANDx Developments Ltd. has experience in advancing tourism-related development projects, including securing planning approvals for agri-tourism uses and tourism-oriented commercial development across the Niagara Region.

One example is the planned expansion of the White Oaks Resort & Spa in the Glendale district of Niagara-on-the-Lake. LANDx provided both planning & project management services, leading the planning approvals process for the proposed multi-tower mixed-use residential and commercial development. Land use permissions for the project were secured in 2024, and the development is currently advancing additional approvals related to building height limitations associated with the nearby airport.

LANDx assists landowners and developers in navigating the planning approvals process and advancing tourism-related development projects from early concept through implementation.