TOURISM. The Drummondville Economic Development Corporation (SDED) and its Drummondville Tourism Division have decided to permanently close the tourist information office at 1350 Rue Jean-Berchmans-Michaud after October 27th.
To replace this office, Tourisme Drummondville is relying on a fully digital sales platform to better meet the needs of its customers.
This decision is primarily due to the change in tourist behavior that has been observed in recent years in terms of the way they obtain information. A trend that has led to a steady decline in the number of visitors entering the doors of the tourist information center and a significant increase in website and social media traffic.
“At the time of Fantastic Legends, in the late 1990s, we were already welcoming almost 40,000 visitors per year to the tourist information center, while in 2023 we will welcome less than 4,000,” Yanick Gamelin, director of the SDED tourism department, said in a press release .
In addition, SDED recorded more than 80% of visitors who visited the tourism office asking questions about attractions outside the Tourisme Drummondville region.
“Our main goal in a tourism office is to engage with people who are looking for information that will lead to economic development in Drummondville, for example by reserving a night at the hotel,” SDED Director General Gerry Gagnon added during a telephone interview. With the data we collected, the tourism office was no longer necessarily the best vehicle as it is less and less a place people go to for their information. We therefore asked ourselves whether it was justified to maintain such infrastructure for such a small number of people.”
In return, Tourisme Drummondville has invested heavily in recent years to equip itself with a digital infrastructure that meets the changing needs of visitors. Since launching the new digital platform in 2019, we have also seen a dramatic increase in traffic to the website.
“It is important to clarify that tourism is doing well and that this announcement will have no impact on existing staff dealing with tourism development. “The team will continue its mission to support businesses and tourism promoters in their approach and implement strategies to showcase the region,” said Mr Gagnon.
Newsstand?
Despite the permanent closure of the site, SDED does not rule out the possibility of opening an office or kiosk in a busy place during the peak tourist season.
“We are seeing opportunities to restructure without having such a large infrastructure. For example, if there is no tourism office in a region, visitors tend to go to the city centers. “Ultimately, we are exploring the possibility of setting up on a regular basis in places where there is a larger influx of tourists, such as downtown Drummondville or even convention centers,” said the SDED director general.
The SDED is currently analyzing options for the future of this building. Although nothing is confirmed, all options are being explored. “A location on Highway 20 like the tourism office is attracting a lot of interest from private companies. We are just beginning this process,” said Gerry Gagnon.
In the event of a sale of the building, Tourisme Drummondville employees will be repatriated to the SDED offices.
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