This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
With the end of the pandemic, Tourisme Montréal is counting on the return of foreign travelers during an “extremely promising” summer, according to its CEO, Yves Lalumière. The metropolis is also expecting nearly 10 million visitors in 2023.
The organization has three priorities for the summer season. First, it wants to maximize the number of delegates to conventions. It wants to improve the experience of travelers in terms of fluidity and mobility, to finally continue its efforts with a view to responsible and sustainable tourism.
“We must not forget that barely a year ago, Canada was extremely conservative” in terms of health rules”, explains Mr. Lalumière at a press conference. He points out that investments are now made more in foreign markets. “We don’t say that people visit Montreal, but they experience it. For us, it is to bring new dollars to the Quebec economy,” he adds.
Last year, less than 60% of the delegates to the conventions had come to the metropolis. “This year, we have about 70%. So, we still see that there is an increase in those who travel from the United States, Canada or internationally, ”continues Mr. Lalumière.
The mess in the airports that occurred in the summer of 2022 are also a thing of the past, believes the CEO “Mobility is important, whether at the airport, at customs, at the hotel, in our places, our attractions. It is essential for us that people who come to Montreal can have an experience that is extremely fluid, ”he underlines, hoping that the situation will remain so in the coming months.
Tourisme Montréal also wishes to encourage sustainable tourism, which is both “in harmony between the resident and the tourist”. On its website, the organization has set up a footprint calculator carbon for the duration of the stay. She then offers visitors a way to compensate for it by means of a donation to Carbone boréal, which will be earmarked for planting trees.
The organization is also counting on its Promise for a sustainable stay, which will be displayed in high-traffic areas of the city. “We’re asking people to commit to leaving Montréal in a way that’s even more beautiful than they found it,” describes Emili Bellefleur, media relations and travel market manager for Tourisme Montréal.
Returning foreign tourists
While visitors to the metropolis last year mainly came to see acquaintances or family, those this year are more like the pre-pandemic portrait. “There is a good recovery at the international level in Montreal, observes Mr. Lalumière. We found the American market, but also the French-speaking market. »
He estimates that the rate of international visitors is equivalent to about 90% of the number of tourists received in 2019, when 11 million people spent time in Montreal. “This year, we expect between 9.5 and 10 million people, but with much greater income than what we had in 2019,” he said.
New rides
The metropolis also has several new attractions on the program. “The big novelty this summer is the Grand Quay and the Port of Montreal Tower,” which opened last May, explains Ms.me Beautiful flower. The new tower is 65 meters high and therefore exceeds the Ferris wheel, located in the Old Port. “For those who are not afraid of heights, you can enjoy the panoramic view, but also the glass cage. And not only is it an observation tower, but the team that designed it wanted it to be an interactive experience as well,” she describes.
The new installation has stations with balloons and screens that allow you to discover Montreal through its history, its architecture and its festivals. All while watching interactive videos, and even composing a symphony based on the one created by the Orchester métropolitain de Montréal.
Outside the building, a large wooden deck awaits visitors with 24,000 plants, some of which are edible, Ms.me Beautiful flower. “It’s a great opportunity to revisit the Port of Montreal,” she says.
Tourisme Montréal and MU, with the support of the City of Montréal, inaugurated its Les Murelles project last year, which is a contraction of the words “mural” and “alley”. From the middle of July, three new Murelles will be unveiled. “We really wanted to give Montrealers opportunities to find themselves spontaneously downtown. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.