A giant structure bearing the slogan “Bonjour Montréal” will be unveiled in July in the Old Port thanks to federal funding of nearly half a million dollars, which covers almost all of the project’s costs. The artistic and poetic video projections of Cité Mémoire will illuminate the enchanting setting of Charlevoix starting Wednesday. On Wheels Montreal has received $100,000 to carry out guided tours on electric bikes this summer…
Here is a sample of the 292 Quebec projects that have shared $110 million from the Tourism Assistance Fund (FAT) and the Canada Economic Development (DEC) agency over the past two years. Just like the pandemic, this program has now ended, as it was designed to help this economic sector through the crisis that was hitting it hard.
“When you think about hotel occupancy rates, things are looking a lot better. Major festivals have resumed. We find the rhythm of 2019, there are positive signs, ”said in an interview with the Duty Minister Pascale St-Onge, responsible for CED for the regions of Quebec. She will carry out an assessment of the FAT on Wednesday.
Needs still crying out
This does not mean that the tourism industry is out of the woods, admits the federal minister. Labor shortages, inflation and climate change are some of the challenges she faces, she acknowledges. However, we must “move to the next stage”.
“To counter the scarcity of labour, digitization can be part of the solution,” said the Minister. “The tourism industry will also have to think more and more about sustainable development. »
The tourism industry will also have to think more and more about sustainable development.
The last federal budget promises 108 million over three years devoted to support for tourism projects, which has no common measure with the scale of the FAT. We should know more in the fall on the distribution of this envelope, indicates Mme St-Onge.
“When it comes to forest fires, DEC is already in contact with affected businesses. It is too early to say what we are going to do, but the agency has always been there in the event of a crisis, ”she added.
As for the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec, we are also seeing an encouraging recovery, particularly in the international clientele. Its vice-president, Frédéric Dubé, believes that well-considered and coordinated aid between the various government bodies enabled the industry to survive the pandemic. These years of scarcity, however, put a severe strain on the financial reserves allowing companies to invest. A “boost” would therefore still be necessary from the public authorities.
The finding is similar on the side of the Community Futures Development Corporation and the Business Assistance Center, which received $40 million from CED to help small tourism businesses relaunch at the end of the pandemic. This support has been essential and the needs are still crying out on the ground, says its director general, Pascal Harvey.