The Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies - Essay Example

Topic: Submission 2 Name: Professor: Institution: Course: Date of Submission: Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com/canada/ Introduction The Niagara Falls and Canadian Rockies are major world renowned tourist destinations; they have diverse tourist attractions ranging from wildlife to cultural heritage. The Niagara Falls lies between the Province of Ontario and the State of New York and attracts over 12 Million tourists to its majestic awesome beauty each year (Woodside, 2008, p.19). Niagara Falls is the second largest falls in the world after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. The pleasant scenery consisting of the Niagara Escarpment, ice and the heavily falling water attracts tourists from diverse parts of the world. The falls give off an all time roar, a refreshing-and uniquely far reaching mist, and this presents an indication of how wondrous the globe is (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). Canadian Rocky Mountains have magnificent natural beauty ranging from striking mountain peaks, crystal blue lakes and monumental glaciers throughout the region. There are provincial and national parks within the Canadian Rockies which enable tourists to have a clear view of my sights and attractions (Sandford, 2010, p. 52). This paper is going to give an analysis of the various “pull factors and push factors” that influence tourists to continuously visit Canada’s beautiful sceneries in the Rockies and Niagara Falls. The natural environment including the favorable climate and presence of modern facilities, and activities in which tourists engage in are put in consideration in this research project. Several likely motivational factors that make the Canadian Rockies and Niagara Falls a tourist destination are highlighted in this paper (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.89). Influences of tourism in sectors such as social, cultural and economic perspectives are also mentioned and assessed at length so as to offer vital information on the implications of tourism activities on the progress and development of Canada. Canada’s Natural Environment The Niagara Falls experience humid continental climate that is restrained to an extent in all seasons due to its proximity to water bodies. It is noted that the Niagara Falls can receive snow-equals from both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, which is located between them. Niagara Falls enjoys different climatic conditions (Zeppel, 2006, p.107). Spring experiences daily temperatures ranging from 41o to 66o Fahrenheit during the day and 26o to 46o Fahrenheit during the night. In summer daily temperatures range from 75o to 81o Fahrenheit while night temperatures vary from 57o to 63o Fahrenheit. The Canadian Rockies experience higher humidity than in winter; despite the perceptions that Canadian climate is exceptionally cold, there are periods when summer temperatures as high as 40oC during the day. This has an implication that tourists can enjoy the varying climatic conditions. Canadian Rockies and Niagara Falls form an extensive region of Canada and form major tourist attractions. They are major source of livelihood as the people living in these regions get job opportunities in the tourism sector especially in restaurants, game parks and in the transport sector. The Niagara Falls and Canadian Rockies contribute immensely towards the environmental conservation and sustainability (Woodside, 2008, p.13). The cultural aspect of the Aboriginal people in Canada is also an imperative aspect of the cultural values and historical social norms in Canada. This analysis gives an indication that the Canadian tourism sector is all-round as it involves both beautiful scenery and cultural values. It is also backed with excellent climatic conditions and these factors form a springboard for promoting increased benevolence from tourism activities (Brebbia, 2010, p.220). Major Features of Canadian Tourism Society Canada is a multiethnic state with many ethnic groups, though 80% of all the population is made up of Canadian born citizens. Since the retreat of the great glaciers about 10,000 years ago, Aboriginal populations have inhabited the Canadian landscape (Sandford, 2010, p. 61). Presently, more than 40 major Aboriginal cultural groups are represented in the region within the Asian communities (Chinese and Punjab) being the most spoken languages after English. It is noted that there are also sizeable German, Italian, Japanese and Russian communities that create a vibrant cultural mosaic in which diverse cuisine, architecture, language and artistic works thrive (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). Regions such as Vancouver have immense cultural sites and buildings that exhibit architectural sensation. Besides the Canadian Rockies, Alberta offers diverse glimpses of Western Country life, along with the celebrations of cultural festivals such as Jasper and Banff. The diversity in cultural and ethnic groups within Canada is an integral aspect that attracts tourists from various parts of the globe. Aboriginal communities engaged in fishing, farming and mining especially in the Canadian Rockies. However, with the advancements in tourism, most of the ethnic groups within Canada have shifted to tourism activities as the major economic activity and source of livelihood (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.122). Canada, just like the US is religiously diverse with South-eastern Ontario being viewed as the most religiously diverse region in the world. It is indicated that the percentage of Christianity is in relative rapid decline while small non-Christian faith groups and Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists among other people with no religious adherence is increasing rapidly. Studies indicate that most Canadians identify themselves with diverse religions/religious groups but no longer attend religious services (Zeppel, 2006, p.118). Canadians engage in diverse economic activities that earn them income; for instance, agriculture, manufacturing, lumbering, mining, fishing and trade. Production of agricultural products such as wheat, corn and fruits among other crops are produced both for local sales and consumption while others are exported to other parts of the world. Dairy farming is also well established in some parts of Canada and this forms an imperative source of source of livelihood to most of the people in Canada (Woodside, 2008, p.22). Manufacturing is also well established in Canada with diversified manufacturing industries ranging from motor vehicles, aluminums, paper, processed foods and petroleum products, just to mention a few. There are varieties of metals and fuels mined in Canada that offer job opportunities to the people and thus, earn them income. Lumbering, fishing and trading are also among the pivotal sources of earnings to the people within Canada; they are conducted both on large scale and small scale operations. History and Heritage of Canada As noted previously, the regions of concern in this project are the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies. Niagara River is an integral part of the Niagara Falls and is a legacy of the last Ice Age. It is noted that 18,000 years ago southern Ontario was covered with ice sheets with a thickness of about 3 kilometers. As the ice retreated northwards, its melt waters began to flow through what eventually became Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. It is from here that the Niagara Falls began its steady erosion through the bedrock. It is historically noted that Niagara region is one of the richest places in all of Canada and much of that history has been preserved and is given to the tourists (Sandford, 2010, p. 101). For generations, the beauty and humbling power of Niagara Falls has enhanced a sense of awe and wonder and many people have enjoyed its sparkling scenery. There is a lot ecological diversity in the Rockies and being acquainted with its historical information concerning its formation and artifacts is imperative. The geology of the northern Rockies can be described generally as sedimentary rocks up to 1.5 billion years old, deposited mostly below the sea level. The formation of the Canadian Rockies is considered to be relatively young on a geological time scale (Zeppel, 2006, p.146). The Canadian Rockies have various forms of heritage, ranging from national parks, escarpments and diverse forestry. Niagara Falls is also surrounded by diverse cultural and religious practices that attract many tourists around the world. How Canada Becomes a Tourist Destination Niagara Falls and Canadian Rockies are spectacular sites in the Canadian state and attract tourists from all parts of the world on an annual basis. Niagara Falls became a tourist destination because of the spectacular features around the falls such as the ice, heavily roaring and falling water and escarpments and other features around the scene (Zeppel, 2006, p.149). This was further enhanced by the development of luxurious hotels and restaurants that attract many people. Diverse forms of cuisines are prepared in the restaurants and this implies that individuals are served with the meals and drinks that they prefer. The diverse cultural practices of the people within the region also form an imperative aspect as to why Niagara Falls is a tourist destination in Canada. The Canadian Rockies were discovered by explorers of the Rocky Mountains and discovered that the mountain harbored exceptionally beautiful scenery. However, this was not the only reason as to why the Canadian Rockies became tourists’ destination; the seclusion of some parts of the forests, just as the case with Niagara Falls, to create National Parks encourages people from different parts of the world to come and have a view of the beautiful and humbling scenery of the Canadian Rockies (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.214). Canada has a generally well developed infrastructure in form of air lines, roads and air ports; these facets play an integral role in ensuring that tourists are attracted to Canada’s diverse tourist attraction sites and cultural practices. These affirmations imply that reasons for Canada being an international tourist destination are multi-faceted ranging from discoveries by explorers, developed infrastructure and diverse cultural practices. Push Factors and Demand for Tourism Push factors are issues that enhance people’s visits and travel from their countries of abode to other countries for sightseeing and adventure. These factors include social, cultural, economic, technological and even political factors. Canada has been a tourist destination for a long time; attracting both local and international tourists to view the range of the beautiful sceneries and cultural diversity (Brebbia, 2010, p.232). The well developed road network systems and airports, presence of good and luxurious hotels, high quality advertisements in the media and on the websites due to well developed information technology are some of the pivotal push factors. Of the highlighted push factors, information technology and marketing of the tourist attraction sites in Canada over the web are the major facets that have acted as push factors to potential tourists to travel to Canada s so as to have an experience of the various attractions in Canada, including Niagara Falls and the Rockies. Likely Motivational Factors Motivational factors are internal feelings that generate needs and desires of the tourists. This has an insinuation that they are diverse depending on the various categories of tourists, and thus, determining accurately such motivational factors in tourists is intricate (Sandford, 2010, p. 71). This is attributed to the diverse needs and desires of the people touring the Canadian beautiful sceneries and diverse cultural practices. In spite of these affirmations, there are some fundamental motivational aspects that could be positively attributed to the tourists of Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies. For instance, the desires to change the environment especially during summer and winter seasons so as to experience the warm and humid climatic conditions are some of the motivating factors (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.82). The hustles that individuals engage in while at work make them depressed and stressed up; this makes people to manage their stressed lives by taking some time in the Rockies and along the Niagara Falls. This affirmation implies that the Canadian mountainous regions, escarpments and the Aboriginal cultural practices enable visitors to appreciate nature and be relaxed. People may also be motivated to visit some of the places in Canada so as to have a taste of the diverse cuisines; Italian, Chinese and others so as to break the monotony of their meals that they could be taking from their home countries (Brebbia, 2010, p.241). Prestige is also a facet that motivates a certain group of tourists as they associate hiking and visiting of Niagara Falls (the second largest Falls on the globe) with a high class and modern life. Pull Factors Pull factors encompass forces that are imperative in pulling tourists to a given tourist destination. Some of the key facets that pull tourists to the Niagara Falls are image, attractions and accessibility to the area. Niagara Falls gives the tourists an opportunity to experience the extraordinarily intimate interaction with the environment/nature (Sandford, 2010, p. 93). The well developed bridges and good transport network in the region facilitates for the accessibility of the tourists to the diverse features around the Niagara Falls. There are also flights which enable the tourists to have an aerial view of the Niagara River, Escarpment and the Niagara Falls. The Canadian Rockies are no different, with a well developed transport system that enables visitors to view the Rockies while in aircrafts. There are luxurious hotels and restaurants in both regions with cool environments for relaxation. Tourist Activities in Canada Depending on the areas visited (Canadian Rockies or the Niagara Falls), tourists engage in different activities. Tourists in both sites engage in interactions with tourist guides so as to enable them have access to non-public activities, make them adhere to the set schedule and also give and interpret information concerning the features and cultural practices undertaken by the local people (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.99). Tourists also visit museums, heritage centers and theme parks so as to be acquainted with the diverse cultural practice and values of the multiethnic Canadian state. Tourists with key interest in the Canadian Rockies engage in mountain hiking and trekking. However, these are not the only activities engaged in by tourists, as there are diverse forms of tourism and each category has its own set of activities in which tourists engage in. Economic Impacts of Tourism Tourism has played an imperative role in the development of job opportunities, foreign exchange earnings and the expansion of the transport and communication infrastructure. Facilities such as hotels and restaurants, airports, camps and lodging facilities have been developed in areas around the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies (Hall & Lew, 2009, p.89). There are booming business facilities for retail and wholesale trading and are aimed at providing services to the tourism industry. This affirmation implies that there are both direct and indirect economic impacts of tourism in the economy of Canada. The payments of tourists for the services in tourist attraction sites provides direct revenue to the economy and aids in the growth of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). The increased tourism activities have facilitated advancement in information technology services and this leads to a multiplier effect in economic expansion of Canada (Brebbia, 2010, p.208). Social and Cultural Impacts of Tourism on Canadian Society Tourism in Canada aids in the preservation of culture; this is because of its rich cultural diversity. The local people in Canada display aspects of their cultural values and practices to the international tourists who in turn pay for them. Cultural preservation is enhanced from the fact that as the local people devote their time in displaying and explaining their culture to the tourists, they are made to be more knowledgeable of their cultural identity (Hall & Lew, 2009, p.93). Tourism in Canada has also been negatively affected as families have been separated due to the need to have them work in camps, hotels and restaurants or as tour guides. This has had an effect of promoting promiscuity and irresponsible sexual behavior among the married people. This has promoted family break ups and divorce, prostitution and increased incidences of HIV/AIDS infection among some Canadian workers in the tourism sector. Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Canada Tourism in Canada plays an important role in the conservation of the environment and its resources such as rivers, vegetation cover, waterfalls, mountains and wildlife. The coastal regions along the Niagara Falls are preserved and used for diving, reef viewing and for a variety of other recreational activities (Vanderwilt, 2010, p.84). The Canadian Rockies are also preserved and used for skiing, hiking and mountain biking. There are some negative effects associated with tourism in the Niagara Falls and within the Canadian Rockies; for instance the ice capped regions around the Niagara Falls during winter are eroded due to the activities of tourists. This destroys the scenery and is equated to visual pollution because beautiful scenery is destroyed. Mountainous areas of the Rockies are also harmed by the adventure climbing activities as some of the rock faces are broken so as to create paths for movement of the tourists (Hall & Lew, 2009, p.76). Accommodation There are a variety of accommodation points in Canada; especially around regions of Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies. The luxurious hotels and restaurants and lodges provide the tourists with luxurious and stylish ambience and experience (Brebbia, 2010, p.253). Tourists have options of choosing their accommodation destinations basing on the tourists’ groups and needs. Hotels such as Cairn Croft Hotel, Fallsview Hotel and Hilton Suites are among the luxurious hotels preferred by tourists. Transportation Whether tourists are visiting Niagara from across the state, country or internationally, a trip to the region has never been easier. There are buses, shuttles, airports, train stations and other transportation options. Tourist first stop at the Official Visitor Center from where they can decide to board the various forms of transportation so as to tour the Canadian heritage in form of cultural practices and beautiful scenery (Brebbia, 2010, p.119). Gastronomic Experiences The Canadian tourism sector offers a variety of delicacies for tourists to choose from. The restaurants offer flexible meals ranging from fine dining cafes, ethnic or local favorites and even fast foods. The restaurants are designed with ambient atmospheres and offer various drinks; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to suit the varying needs of the customers (Woodside, 2008, p.18). Components of the Brochure Niagara Falls Fall Festivals in Niagara USA As the leaves begin to change colors, an array of fall-themed events and festivals can be found across Niagara USA. Come and experience the Spectacular Niagara Falls. Good Eats, Cool Treats in Niagara USA  Niagara USA is home to some great eats and sweet treats. Find out more about the regions popular summer time restaurants and ice cream shops. Come and visit Niagara Falls and enjoy with Packages as low as $79!!! For more details, contact: 10 Rainbow Boulevard Niagara Falls, NY 14303 > Call 1-800-370-0700 E-Mail: NTCC@Niagara-USA.com You can Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter and get instant updates. References Brebbia, CA 2010, The Sustainable World, WIT Press, London. Hall, C & Lew, A, 2009, Understanding and managing tourism impacts: an integrated approach Routledge/contemporary geographies of leisure, tourism, and mobility. Taylor & Francis. MacDonald, R & Jolliffe, L. (2003). Cultural rural tourism: evidence from Canada. Annals of tourism research , vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 307-322. Sandford, R, 2010, Ecology & Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Athabasca University Press. Vanderwilt, D, 2010, Niagara Falls: With the Niagara Parks, Clifton Hill, and Other Area Attractions Tourist Town Guides. Edition3. Midpoint Trade Books Inc. Woodside, A, 2008, Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Volume 2 Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research. Emerald Group Publishing. Zeppel, H 2006, Indigenous ecotourism: Sustainable development and management, CABI, New York. Read More