Heads of state may not be attending COP15, which will be held in Montreal in December, but for the tourism industry, the event, which is expected to attract more than 10,000 foreign delegates to the city, is very welcome.
“It’s a nice gift for an early December that is usually a little quieter from a tourist point of view,” says Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, CEO of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal. “We take everything that happens, especially after two years of more than lean cows. »
The organization estimates that between 15,000 and 20,000 the number of nights that have been reserved so far for the duration of the United Nations conference on biodiversity to be held in Montreal from December 7 to 19. “And we know that reservations are still coming in,” said Mr. Boudreault.
Still, the event will not have the magnitude that was mentioned a few months ago, maintains Mr. Boudreault. And last week, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, confirmed that no heads of state would attend the summit.
For now, several security-related measures remain to be specified. And hoteliers will have to deal with the period of Christmas parties which will begin in their establishments. “It’s a great puzzle,” admits Jean-Sébastien Boudreault.
“It’s a godsend for us. Four months ago, we didn’t expect COP15 to be held here,” confirms Manuela Goya, Vice-President, Public Affairs at Tourisme Montréal. According to her, COP15 will demonstrate that Montreal is capable of hosting large-scale events and that it is a destination of choice for business tourism. “For us and for the city, it is important that Montreal be associated with the fight for the climate and biodiversity. The reputation can come out stronger,” she believes.
That said, the fallout from the event will be positive as long as the conference goes well, acknowledges Mr.me Goya: “We hope it won’t be a crowd and that we won’t have degrading images of Montreal”.
G7 and COP15
To those who might be tempted to draw a parallel between COP15 in Montreal and the G7 summit held in Charlevoix in 2018, Paul Arseneault, tourism expert and professor in the marketing department at UQAM, warns that comparisons are difficult. On the occasion of the G7 summit, a sector of La Malbaie had been cordoned off for a handful of heads of state. The event had no real economic benefits for the region, he said.
COP15 looks more like a “big congress”, says the professor. This is therefore good news for the metropolis at this time of year. “It will really generate tourist activity. The airlines will transport a lot of people and we can imagine that the taxis will do good business and that people will go to the restaurant. “There will be traffic obstructions, but they will not be major, he underlines.
However, the expert does not believe that this summit for biodiversity will make an impression and that Montrealers will commemorate the event in 15 years. He also doesn’t think COP15 will lead to a wave of leisure tourism in 2023. However, COP15 will strengthen Montreal’s place as the top North American destination for international association conventions, he argues.
A perimeter unfolds
The deployment of the security perimeter around the Palais des Congrès began Monday morning, which led to the complete closure of Viger Avenue, between Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Hermine Street. About twenty police officers were on the scene Monday morning to ensure the fluidity of traffic. The erection of the fence around the Palais des congrès should be completed around November 27, said Philippe Sabourin, spokesperson for the City of Montreal.
Eventually, when the fence is in place, one traffic lane will be removed on Avenue Viger as well as on Saint-Antoine and Saint-Urbain streets. Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle will also be cordoned off, as will the Palais des Congrès parking lot, which is located north of Viger Avenue. Montreal is planning an exceptional police deployment, the largest in the last 20 years in the city.
For its part, the Anti-Capitalist and Ecologist Coalition against COP15 has already announced the holding of demonstrations on December 7 and 9, on the sidelines of the event. According to the coalition, thousands of students voted for a strike mandate for the first three days of COP15.