Quebec City tops tourist destinations in Canada, Montreal third

Quebec City Tops Canada’s Holiday Tourist Destinations, Montreal Places Third

Quebec City emerged as the leading tourist destination in Canada during the holiday season, with Montreal securing the third spot.

Data from Destination Quebec City reveals that hotel occupancy in the provincial capital reached 77 percent between December 22 and 28.

“2019 has always been our benchmark as the best year before the pandemic, and we're about 15 percent higher than 2019 and 11 percent higher than last year,” said Robert Mercure, general manager of Destination Quebec City.

Factors Behind Quebec City’s Success

Mercure attributed the city’s success to targeted advertising campaigns in the United States, the favorable exchange rate of the Canadian dollar, and recognition in prominent international outlets, including Vogue and Forbes magazines, as well as CNN.

“All three of them identified us as one of the top winter destinations in the world,” he noted.

Tourism Performance Across Cities

Vancouver secured the second position with a hotel occupancy rate of 63 percent, while Montreal followed with 54 percent.

“During the holiday season, ending in November and definitely into the beginning parts of December, we've seen a lot of tourism,” said Paul Desbaillets, co-founder of the Burgundy Lion Group. “When the U.S. dollar is high, you get a lot more American tourists. It’s as simple, and the same thing with the Euro or the pound sterling.”

Boosting Winter Tourism in Montreal

Mohamed Ghodbane, owner of Noor Souvenirs, expressed the need for more winter activities in Montreal to enhance tourism during the colder months.

“So something has to happen to attract people to keep them in Montreal,” Ghodbane said.

Collaborative Tourism Efforts

Mercure highlighted the synergy between Quebec City and Montreal, emphasizing that tourists often visit both cities during their trips.

“Well, I think both cities worked very closely together in synergy,” he added.