For the months of June to September inclusive, the Maritime and Air Transport Cooperative (CTMA) notes a drop in traffic of approximately 3% in the number of visitors who have booked aboard the ferry leading to the Magdalen Islands, compared to the same period last year.
The decline is, however, more marked in July, with a decrease of 6%.
No representative of the CTMA neither Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine wished to grant an interview to comment on this drop.
There CTMA indicates, however, by email that it has not observed any wave of cancellations in connection with the implementation of the Archipel Pass, a controversial tourist fee of $30 per visitor, payment of which is now optional.
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Currently, around 75% of rooms are reserved at the La Salicorne inn in July and August, in Grande-Entrée. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
At the La Salicorne inn in Grande-Entrée, it is indicated that approximately 25% of the 26 rooms and eight ready-to-camp units are still available in July and August.
What we see is that there is still a slight decrease in reservations at this point compared to the last three years.
notes director Robert St-Onge. We also have a little more difficulty selling June and September, times that we had managed to win over the last four years.
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Robert St-Onge notes that overnight stays in bubble tents, which are more economical than rooms in a hostel, are selling better than last year. “We feel that people are very reactive to costs,” he notes.
Photo: Courtesy of La Salicorne
Without being alarmist, Robert St-Onge still says he is worried about the situation which he attributes to inflation and the post-pandemic reopening of international markets.
I find the situation worrying. Tourism is fragile in our regions. We have won parts of the season, but we also have to consolidate our summers.
The director of the Grande-Entrée inn nevertheless notes that reservations continue to be made even though June is upon us, which allows him to believe that these rooms will find takers.
The phone has to keep ringing, but it does this year, it’s ringing, it’s good
he said.
The Passe Archipel would not be in question
Like the CTMARobert St-Onge does not believe that this slowdown is linked to Passe Archipel, because he has not personally heard any visitors complain about it.
There was only one person who spoke to us about it to tell us that they agreed to pay it, regardless of the formula.
he notes. For us, it doesn’t seem to have an impact.
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The owner of the Auberge du port, Claude Thériault, says he has not received any negative comments regarding Passe Archipel from visitors. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
Same story at the Auberge du port in Cap-aux-Meules.
No customer spoke to me about this, no one was dissatisfied. The people who talked about it understood.
The thirty rooms at the Auberge du port are already more than 90% booked in July and August, but general manager Claude Thériault notes that visitors have shortened their stay and organized their vacations later.
We notice that people are more nervous and that reservations are of shorter duration, we are more around 5 to 10 days than 12 to 15 days
observes Mr. Thériault. We still have a lot of calls. In other years, we had calls mainly from October to December.
Mr. Thériault believes that this is a return to the pre-pandemic situation.
