Nearly one in two Quebecers plans to spend their summer vacation in one of the many regions of the province, including Quebec City, according to a survey conducted by CAA-Quebec.
• Read also: Federal flop at Passport Canada
• Read also: Flights at $ 500: there will not be tickets for everyone
Unsurprisingly, the cost of gas is no stranger to this trend, as 43% of Quebec vacationers say it will have an impact on their vacation planning.
However, according to the organization, this impact remains marginal.
“Among this 43% there, there are 37% who said that they were going to go less far and an 11% who chose to stay at home. When we bring that back to all vacationers, that’s why we talk about a marginal impact, because it’s perhaps 10 or 15% of people who will perhaps go less far, but they will still travel, ”says Nicolas Ryan, spokesperson for CAA-Quebec.
The main changes observed in relation to the cost of gasoline are the distance of routes, travel once at destination or spending on food and entertainment.
USA back
Also according to CAA-Quebec, approximately 11% of respondents indicated that they plan to visit another Canadian province and 10% of travelers will go to the United States this summer, figures similar to data from before the pandemic.
But year after year, Quebec remains the main destination for Quebecers, according to the organization.
“During the pandemic, it went up even more. Before the pandemic, it was between 35 and 45% of Quebecers [who planned to stay in the province for the holidays],” adds Mr. Ryan.
At Destination Québec cité, we are delighted with this constant popularity, particularly after two years of the pandemic.
“We expect a better summer. The activities resume, the festivals, the fireworks, in short, the animation resumes”, underlines Éric Bilodeau, spokesperson.
However, this joy is accompanied by some concern related to the labor shortage.
“Will the hotels be 100% open? Some yes, others no, explains Mr. Bilodeau.
He explains that Destination Québec cité will have to adjust its promotional campaigns according to the situation.
The president and general manager of the Association Hôtellerie Québec, Véronyque Tremblay, is also delighted with the popularity of Quebec, but the shortage of labor darkens the picture.
“We are expecting a good summer, but the problem is the lack of manpower, which is between 10 and 25% depending on the location,” says Ms. Tremblay.
The hotel industry is short of about 8,000 workers in Quebec.
“Hoteliers do not want to diminish the customer experience, but they will have to accept fewer customers, she laments. They would have liked the opposite after two difficult years.
Gaspé (21%)
Charlevoix (17 %)
Quebec (14%)
Laurentians (14%)
Lower St. Lawrence (14%)
