Visitors were numerous this year in Gaspésie, even if the reopening of international borders and the explosion of gas prices have raised fears of a decline in tourist traffic in this region traditionally popular with travellers.
The most recent report drawn up by Tourisme Gaspésie, for the period from May to September inclusively, indicates that the number of visitors rose to more than 570,000 and that the economic spinoffs were measured at $340 million, which represents increases of 2.2% and 7.3% respectively compared to 2021. The increases reach 6% and 25% respectively when the results are compared with those of 2019, the reference year which preceded the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
These increases in 2022 were observed despite record attendance in Gaspésie during the two previous summers.
The Director General of Tourisme Gaspésie, Joëlle Ross, is particularly pleased that the region has recorded tourist gains at the start and end of the season. She recalls that the significant traffic in 2020 and 2021 was noted over a very concentrated period. Mme Ross thinks the challenge is to lengthen the season rather than increase traffic in the heart of summer, and to spread out the tourist flow, which would allow businesses to spread out the crowds.
Tourisme Québec reports that the average occupancy rate of accommodation establishments in Gaspésie for the period from May to September 2022 inclusively amounted to 66.8%, an increase of 2.6 percentage points compared to the rate of 2019 and equal to that of last year. The average occupancy rates for the months of July (80.4%) and August (84.9%) were comparable to those of 2019. And according to preliminary data from Camping Québec for Gaspésie, the average campsite occupied by campers passing through between June and August inclusive was higher than that of 2019.
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