Weather predictions that can change at the last minute can harm many tourist activities in Quebec, thinks the CEO of the Alliance of the Quebec Tourism Industry.
“Tourism businesses are quite dependent on weather forecasts, but it is also the way of reading the forecast,” declared Geneviève Cantin in an interview with LCN on Saturday.
She gave the example of a forecast of 40% chance of precipitation in a region, when it was only a small amount that lasted only a single hour.
“So the person prevents themselves from doing aquatic activities. Then finally, the weather was nice all day,” she mentioned. “It ruined both the day of the tourist who wanted to do the activity and that of the tourist company.”
Photo d’archives, Benoit Gariépy
This situation can also occur in winter for ski resorts. “In Montreal, there isn’t much snow anymore sometimes, in February or March, but right next door, in Bromont, in the Eastern Townships, in the Laurentians, [il y en a]“, she emphasized.
The CEO of the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance made it clear that meteorologists do “exceptional” work.
“I think we just need to raise awareness,” she said. “I’m not saying that we should ignore big, terrible forecasts, but we still need to be able to read a little more.”
The CEO also denounced tourists and citizens who decide to defect, or to cancel their presence at the last minute without warning the company.
Excellent tourist season in Quebec
The summer season was “extraordinary” for Geneviève Cantin.
“As you know, the pandemic has put a strain on the tourism industry […] and there, this year, the results were there,” she said.
The Tourism Industry Alliance carried out a study on Quebecers who visit the province for their vacations. Despite the obligation to stay there during COVID-19, the survey showed that their numbers had increased compared to the pandemic years.
Unsplash / Benoit Debaix
The tourism industry would also be very beneficial for the Quebec government in terms of economic benefits, according to the CEO.
“We were talking in 2023 for the entire year of 4.1 billion in foreign currencies coming into Quebec alone, with the contribution of the tourism industry. So, to be able to see this increase in tourists, to see that our promotional efforts are producing results, well that makes us extremely happy,” she said.
If the trend continues, the expert believes that their objective of reaching $5 billion in tourism spending in Quebec in 2026 will be achieved.
To watch the full interview, click on the video above.
