MONT-JOLI – The 2023 summer tourist season in Gaspésie exceeded expectations.
In the spring, Tourisme Gaspésie expected a slowdown in the number of visitors after three busy summers marked by significant measures restricting travel outside the province.
But this was not the case, as the vacation intentions of Quebecers were expected to decline combined with the resumption of international travel, the slow resumption of arrivals of international tourists, and inflation.
“We actually thought it would be lower than last year but, at the moment, in terms of overnight stays in the region, it’s a little higher. However, we haven’t compiled September’s figures. We’ll have more accurate data at the end of October,” explains the director, Joëlle Ross.
According to preliminary data at this time, for the months of May to August, approximately 487,000 visitors came to the Gaspé Peninsula, which could represent an increase of 6.7% compared to 2022 and 6.24% compared to 2019.
Occupancy rates for July and August are slightly down but the organization has noted an increase in available units, which distorts the data.
To assess the variation in actual visitors, Tourisme Gaspésie focuses on occupied units where increases have been observed.
Thus, May records an increase of 18.3%, June 4.2%, July 6.9% and August 4.4%.
According to a survey of tourism businesses, more than 80% of them view the season positively and the main concern of businesses is inflation and rising operating costs.
Visitor behaviour is changing
“We’re honouring our favourite tourist region, but we’re not going out as much as before to eat, we’re doing fewer activities, and we’re going to museums less, which is why it’s a bit harder for these activities. We’re probably going to the grocery stores more and doing our own thing, which means that people have come, but they haven’t travelled in the same usual way,” analyses the director.
Regarding the restaurant sector, Ms. Ross notes that the labour shortage means that some restaurants have to restrict their activities.
“In terms of visitors, we’re going to have more of the same, but in terms of economic spin-offs, we’re certainly going to be down,” expects Ms. Ross.
Last year, 570,000 visitors came to the region between May and September, generating around $340 million in economic spinoffs.
“Quebecers are still fond of the Gaspé, and those who discovered the Gaspé during the COVID years were happy with their stay and are coming back to see us again. Customers from outside the region have started to come back. This allows us to stretch out the season. September should be very good, and May started quite early,” she mentions.
From March to October, Tourisme Gaspésie has invested more than $700,000 to promote the destination to Quebecers and the population of the Maritimes.
A full report will be presented at the Gaspésie Tourism Industry Symposium (Colloque de l’industrie touristique de la Gaspésie) in Matane on November 22 and 23.
Preparations for the winter tourist season are well under way.
“And soon we will be working on our spring campaign, which is our biggest campaign of the year,” concludes Ms. Ross.