Recent tourism stats might show a decrease in people visiting the city, but local tourism experts say it's not all doom and gloom.

"It all looks a lot bleaker than it really is," said Niagara Tourism executive director Anna Pierce. "Of course, we're not pleased, but we're not ready to throw ourselves into the Falls."

A report released Monday by Statistics Canada shows U.S. trips to Ontario decreased by 11.4 per cent this summer compared to last July.

According to Pierce, the numbers do not necessarily paint a clear picture of what is actually happening tourism-wise in the region.

"We're not making the same revenues we are used to seeing, that's true, but occupancy is up and we're now looking at different ways to draw people to Niagara Falls."

According to the report, occupancy levels were highest in Niagara Falls, compared to the rest of the province, at 84.2 per cent, but did fall slightly across Ontario, down 1.1 per cent, from 2007.

Niagara Falls Tourism is now using the Internet to target people with higher incomes to spend their vacations in the Falls.

"People who traditionally travel a lot -- those are the people we are trying to get."

Pierce says they are also offering people more value for their tourism buck, by giving admissions to attractions with dinner coupons as incentive to make the trip. "We're offering them more of an experience," she said.

Pierce cites the poor U.S. economy as a major reason for the decrease. "People are nervous. There's not as much expendable income. So states...like Michigan, where we used to see a lot of people come from, are staying close to home. They don't just come to Niagara Falls for something to do anymore.

"Times have changed and they aren't changing back," Pierce continued.

"People aren't rushing in anymore, but they certainly haven't stopped coming completely."