An economic study to develop the south of Gaspésie

The MRCs of Avignon and Bonaventure have launched a study to understand the economic potential of the region. The interest is to understand the strengths, weaknesses and issues that will have to be overcome in the coming years.

Several Gaspé economic sectors often come to the heart of discussions, such as the tourism or forestry industry.

However, other specialized companies are growing and the prefects of both MRC want to know them better.

Promote new sectors

The prefect of the MRC of Bonaventure, Éric Dubé, makes particular reference to the railway industry which would benefit from being put forward.

Twelve years ago, the railway industry meant nothing to anyone in Gaspésiehe says. The prefect then explains that by supporting local entrepreneurs in the field, theMRC has opened up its economic opportunities in this sector.

What do we have that we could push a little more?

The portrait drawn up by this study will be presented in two separate reports. On the one hand, it should present to both MRC tools to make economic decisions and on the other hand establish their development strategy.

The prefect of the MRC d’Avignon, Mathieu Lapointe, explains that with the help of this portrait, the MRC will be able to rely on its strengths, to go further.

The idea is really to have a document to fuel our thinking.

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The document could also present potential pitfalls to economic development.

Éric Dubé assumes that the workforce issue, the scarcity of housing, but especially the aging of the population, will be present in the report.

According to the latest provincial data, a third of Gaspé residents will be over 65 in 2051.

It will take services says Éric Dubé. He adds that everything will have to be put into an equation to be able to carry out meaningful development.

We have great challenges for the next thirty years.

At the same time, the MRC wish to continue to support traditional industries such as the tourism sector.

The example of the La Virée Trad Festival

The flagship event of the Thanksgiving weekend, La Virée Trad de Carleton-sur-Mer is a traditional music festival that attracts 7,000 people over three days.

The general director of Maximum 90, which organizes the event, Samuel Téguel, explains that the direct and indirect economic benefits of the event amount to $800,000.

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On his own, the two-day public market generates approximately $150,000 in turnoverintroduces the director.

Samuel Téguel adds that the interest of the festival is in particular to extend the tourist season until the fall

The Carleton-sur-Mer festival is also thinking about its future, wishing to perpetuate the approach of tourism focused on cultural discovery.

For its part, the future involves a greater approach to foreign tourists who appreciate Quebec traditions. We see your producers, your artisans, your musicians, your jigs, your color and for us it’s an accelerated immersionrelate Samuel Téguel.

Based on information from Jean-François Deschenes