Investment to provide an amazing experience for tourists visiting Eastern Quebec

Québec Maritime is awarded a total of over $4 million in financial assistance to promote the regions along the St. Lawrence

GRAND-MÉTIS, QC, May 21, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The tourism sector is an important economic driver across the country, and it accounts for one in ten jobs. It contributes to sustainable growth and creates good jobs for middle-class families in major centres as well as in communities. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, today unveiled Creating Middle Class Jobs: A Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, which will bolster growth and diversify the sector by enhancing and developing the unique experiences that attract tourists year-round to all regions of our country.

Rémi Massé, Member of Parliament for Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, while in Grand-Métis to present the details of this new strategy, took the opportunity to announce funding of over $4 million to support tourism and the economy in the regions bordering the majestic St. Lawrence.

Specifically, CED is awarding two financial contributions to the organization Le Québec Maritime so that the regions it represents take better advantage of tourism opportunities.

The first, in the form of a non-repayable contribution of $3,120,000 over three years, will enable the organization to continue improving the tourism drawing power of the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Côte-Nord, Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The organization will implement a marketing plan and support the development of the tourism offering in order to attract clients from outside Quebec and from abroad.

CED is awarding a second non-repayable contribution of $900,000 to the organization to implement an interregional marketing strategy outside Quebec for the Experience the St. Lawrence River program, which aims to raise awareness of and promote the diversity and richness of the tourism offering and accessibility of the St. Lawrence. That program is led by Le Québec Maritime, in cooperation with the Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec, and brings together 14 tourism-related organizations around a common marketing strategy – an entirely new way of doing things.

Through the Government of Canada's support for projects such as those of Le Québec Maritime, Canadians and visitors to Canada will be able to discover or rediscover the attractions of the regions served by the organization and experience the many facets of the St. Lawrence River throughout various Quebec regions.

This strategy will empower communities of all sizes through short- and long-term measures by:

1. providing $58.5 million in funding through the Canadian Experiences Fund to enhance Canada's tourism products and experiences;
2. changing the way we invest in tourism by developing tourism investment groups where all levels of government will collaborate to invest more efficiently while meeting local priorities and identifying ways to raise private investment; and
3. creating the new Tourism Industry Economic Strategy Table to provide a platform for government and industry leaders to collaborate on overcoming sector challenges.

These three pillars will take a whole-of-government approach to addressing barriers to growth such as lack of investment coordination and labour shortages.

Quotes

"By focusing on marketing our maritime attractions and our unique and integrated tourism experiences outside Quebec, we are actively contributing to the reputation of our most beautiful areas of the country while fostering growth in major export industry. I am proud of the financial support announced today by the Government of Canada because it will make a concrete contribution to the vitality of the communities."

Rémi Massé, Member of Parliament for Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

"Tourism is a very important industry sector, and the Government of Canada is committed to making it profitable for everyone. By supporting projects like those of Le Québec Maritime, we are targeting the promotion of and tourism drawing power of Quebec's regions in order to stimulate economic growth and create good jobs for middle-class families."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

"We have seen many communities, including communities in the Bas-St-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord and Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions, transform their economies through tourism and create good jobs for middle-class families. Our strategy aims to help those who are seeking to join or already working in the industry by providing communities with the tools they need to develop new, unique tourism products that will attract more visitors to their region year-round."

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

"We are very pleased with this major announcement for the tourism businesses in our regions. Our unique, authentic offer perfectly aligns with the new trends and with the demand of clients outside Quebec who want to discover grandiose maritime landscapes and have extraordinary experiences. Québec by the sea is a mix of nature, culture and warm hospitality. We are confident that the investments announced today will enable us to increase traffic in and the benefits for our businesses and regions."

Carl Beaulieu, Vice-President, Le Québec Maritime

The Alliance is thrilled with these investments from CED that are directly contributing to the promotion and marketing of distinct tourism experiences. We also commend the collaboration and contribution of the partners that are coming together to vigorously promote the unique aspects of the Québec Original brand within the Destination Canada brand. 

Martin Soucy, President and CEO, Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec

Quick facts

• Today's announcement is made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio, which comprises 17 federal departments and agencies, including CED and the other five regional development agencies.
• The funding was awarded under CED's Quebec Economic Development Program.
• Québec Maritime has five regional tourism associations among its members (Bas-St-Laurent, Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Duplessis and Manicouagan) and 168 businesses operating in this industry.
• The regions served by Québec Maritime attract an average of 240,000 visitors from outside Quebec annually, who spend over $123 million. According to data collected by the organization, 83% of accommodation establishments reported a significant increase in visitors from outside Quebec in 2017 - the largest increase in the last 10 years.
• Coordinated by Le Québec Maritime, the Experience the St. Lawrence program brings together nine regional tourism associations (Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord [Duplessis and Manicouagan], Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Charlevoix, Lanaudière, Mauricie and Montérégie) and five partners (Alliance de l'industrie touristique du Québec, Sépaq, Parks Canada, Alliance Éco-Baleine and Alliance de l'industrie nautique du Québec). It aims to promote and improve the tourism drawing power of the regions along the St. Lawrence.
• Tourism represents 2% of Canada's gross domestic product and supports 1.8 million Canadian jobs.

Related link

• Tourism in Canada

Stay connected

• Follow tourism news on social media @CDNtourism and join the conversation using the hashtags #tourism and #jobs: Twitter, Instagram.
• Follow CED on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube
• Follow Le Québec Maritime on Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions