Well ahead of the post-pandemic tourism recovery, Canada is looking to go full throttle to attract visitors from around the world to the country. But he needs to make sure there’s enough air supply if he wants to continue his momentum.
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Quebec City is hosting Rendez-vous Canada 2023 this weekend at the Center des congrès. Dubbed the “Olympic Games” of tourism, it will seal $150 million in deals with key players in the international tourism industry.
After being hit very hard by the pandemic, the country’s tourism recovery is going well, even better than hoped, said German Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, speaking to a room full of media from around the world yesterday.
“Canada has what the rest of the world wants,” he said enthusiastically, before listing a long list of Canada’s top attractions.
By the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2024, the minister predicts the tourism industry will be running at the same pace as 2019, which is “at least a year ahead of the forecasts we had in 2021,” he said
“The number of visitors and the money spent [ont augmenté] and we’re seeing the people arriving spending more than they did before the pandemic.
air traffic in question
However, the issue of air accessibility came up again during the press conference in a Mexican and another British outlet. The two reporters also pointed out the high prices for travel to Canada.
Minister Boissonnault wanted to reassure her and explained that he too would like more flights and better prices. In an interview with Le Journal, he insisted on reminding that it was an “election”.
“The European Union has chosen a model, the same model as us. Americans have opted for a model where they subsidize their airports and their airlines. We haven’t made that decision yet and at the moment it’s a pay-the-user system.
Sustainable Tourism
The future of tourism is that of sustainable tourism, as the Edmonton Center MP emphasized.
“To quote Wayne Gretzky, ‘Slide where the puck will be, not where it is,'” laughed Randy Boissonnault to show that companies that promote sustainable development are encouraged.
Liza Frulla, President of the Board of Destination Canada, also agrees.
“I work with young adults in this environment and that’s what keeps them busy [le tourisme durable]“Support the one who also wears the hat of a great patron of the Quebec Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (ITHQ).
An “incredible showcase” for Quebec
Quebec is benefiting from an “incredible showcase” with the arrival of the “Olympic Games” of tourism on its doorstep, major industry players in the region believe.
With more than 1,500 participants and around 8,000 hotel nights, Rendez-vous Canada 2023 will generate direct side effects of almost 4 million US dollars.
The big players in international tourism will take advantage of their visit to visit several of our attractions.
“Not only is there an economic impact, but the impact will be felt for years to come,” says Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec President and CEO Martin Soucy, casually reminding that Rendez you Canada should happen will take place in Quebec City in 2020.
Québec Destination Cité Director Robert Mercure calls it a “key event to create new partnerships” that will allow the region to continue the boom it has already begun.
“Last summer I said to myself that we would be lucky if we could do 75% of 2019’s volume. Finally, we reached 85% of 2019 volume. And the gap keeps getting smaller. And this summer there will be even more,” he predicts.
The province is doing well
Martin Soucy assures that this growth can also be observed at provincial level.
“Quebec is recovering faster than any other Canadian province in terms of both international tourist spending and international arrivals,” he says.
In 2019, the tourism industry generated just over $16.4 billion, including more than $4 billion in new money spent by visitors. “We have not abandoned the markets during the pandemic. We remained present to protect the image. “The performance is excellent,” he explained.
Rendez-vous Canada in a nutshell
- More than 1500 participants from 29 countries
- Presented in Quebec for the seventh time
- Nearly $4 million economic benefit to the region
- Agreements totaling more than $150 million are expected to be signed over the weekend
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