Sunday afternoon, the last day of the construction holiday, Old Montreal is packed with people, despite the oppressive heat. While some establishments are having the best summer in a long time, others are seeing a brake on the spending of the thousands of tourists who roamed the streets… the cost of living.
For more than 50 years, Lucien Gobeil has made a living from selling his works in Old Montreal. And even though he has seen an increase in the number of tourists over the decades around his kiosk on Place Jacques-Cartier, Mr. Gobeil made less profit this summer than last year.
“We feel that, given the economic context, people no longer have money,” explained the multidisciplinary artist, whose works can cost between $25 and $275.
“And that’s not even counting the fact that they don’t have any cash anymore,” he added, overwhelmed by the complexity that each card payment creates for him. Since he doesn’t have the necessary equipment, he has to go to a store run by his daughter not far from there each time.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Lucien Gobeil
A little further on, on Rue de la Commune, the Oly Anger Tattoo tattoo parlor offers a walk-in service. On Sunday lunchtime, inside, two or three people were getting tattooed. However, the parlor can accommodate about twenty clients at a time.
“This is the worst year I’ve seen in the last 10 years. This summer, we’re only at 45% of our traffic from last summer,” admitted tattoo artist Jessica Meza. “It’s really because of the economic climate.”
Yet thousands of people roam the surrounding streets every day.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Oly Anger Tattoo parlor offers a walk-in service. On Sunday afternoon, two or three people were getting tattooed inside. However, the parlor can accommodate about twenty clients at a time.
“We feel that people want to plan their expenses more, and for what is essential. For example, people will prioritize eating out,” noted Shanny Jazz, apprentice tattoo artist.
At the Museum of Illusion, it’s the same observation: tourists often buy their tickets in advance online since they plan the stop on their way.
“Otherwise, it happens that customers raise prices,” noted Sarah Allard, head of sales at the Museum.
According to a survey by the Transat Chair in Tourism at the University of Quebec in Montreal, nearly a third of Quebecers believe that prices are too high in Quebec, which dissuades them from travelling there.
Both establishments also point out that they have suffered greatly from construction sites, which have blocked important entry points for customers.
Quebec tourists
For other tourist establishments in Old Montreal, the traffic flow is still very high during the construction holidays.
At least that’s what Adam Barakat, customer service supervisor at the Montreal Science Centre, has observed. “We’ve had people from Chicoutimi, others from Sherbrooke,” he gave as examples.
At the Seasalt restaurant, located just across the street, it’s the same observation: not only do we see more Quebec tourists, but more families.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
For some tourist establishments in Old Montreal, the traffic flow is still very high during the construction holidays.
The family of Marie-Ève Arpin, who lives on the South Shore of Montreal, took advantage of the last day of their vacation to spend a day in the metropolis, which had been fully planned.
“We came to the Science Center this morning because we are going to see the Cirque du Soleil this afternoon!” explained Mr.me Arpin, mother of Zachary, Livia and Raphaël.
Adam Bakarat explains that the show currently presented by Cirque du Soleil in the Old Port attracts a lot of tourists.
Other factors
For its part, the William Gray Hotel is having its best summer in 8 years. The establishment attributes its traffic to international tourism, which has fully recovered since COVID, and it believes that Quebec customers on vacation are taking advantage of it to get out of the province.
An observation supported by Mr. Gobeil, who stopped during his discussions with The Press to meet intrigued tourists from California. “There are a lot of people, but more tourists who come from the United States, from Europe, even during the construction holidays,” he said.
Other factors, such as good weather, influence the number of people visiting stores.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
While some establishments in Old Montreal are experiencing their best summer in a long time, others are seeing a brake on spending by the thousands of tourists who roamed the streets… the cost of living.
For Crèmerie St-Paul, for example, the last two weeks have been extremely beneficial in terms of revenue, compared to last summer, when extreme amounts of rain fell throughout Quebec.
The weekend was also marked by numerous tourist events, such as the Otakuthon anime festival at the Palais des Congrès and the Osheaga music festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Tourisme Montréal will unveil its construction holiday report on August 13.