World Junior Hockey Championship boosts economy in Ottawa

The World Junior Hockey Championship, which is held in Ottawa, attracts many tourists and visitors from all over the world to take part in this important sporting event. The event is a great opportunity to stimulate the local economy, according to the business community.

In total, ten hockey teams from different countries will compete in this tournament, until January 5 at TD Place and the Canadian Tire Centre. Hockey Canada estimates that the federal capital could receive approximately 400,000 fans during the championship, in addition to economic benefits estimated at $80 million.

Revitalize the local economy

For the general director of the Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la capital nationale (RGA), Pascale de Montigny Gauthier, this championship attracts many tourists to the region, which helps revitalize the local economy.

We see it very favorably that the championship takes place in the region, it is very beneficial for the business community, hotels, restaurants, retail businesses. We agree that this is a more difficult period. So, this brings significant economic benefitsshe explains.

We’re expecting around 350,000 visitors, so it’s sure to be a boom. Hotels may be fuller, etc.

This opinion is also shared by the director of public affairs for Ottawa Tourism, Jérôme Miousse, who confides that hotel demand is currently higher than the usual holiday times.

It must be said that during the holiday season, it’s usually a little more relaxed, a little quieter. In Ottawa, at this time, our hotels are quite full. Restaurants, we don’t have the data yet, but things are going well. Just walking around here in Ottawa, we see that there is traffic, we feel the enthusiasm, we feel the excitement, so it’s beautiful to seehe says.

People from everywhere

To illustrate the traffic, Mr. Miousse explains that Ottawa Tourism is currently being consulted by supporters from everywhere.

In our new tourist center at the corner of Queen and Elgin, we have welcomed people from all over North America, from North Carolina to British Columbia, from Europe and even from Kazakhstan. We also received people from the Czech Republiche emphasizes.

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Pier-Luc Ouellette came from Rimouski with his two children to support the Czech team. We are hosting a young man from L’Océanic de Rimouski, Pavel Simek, who plays for the Czech Republic, so we came to encourage him todayhe emphasizes.

Although he came to watch the hockey games, this fan indicates that he will take the time to visit the city of Ottawa and its surroundings.

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Former Hull Olympic player and native of the Eastern Townships in Quebec, Philippe Choinière, also took advantage of this championship to return to the region.

These are still rare occasions. We said to ourselves: we’re taking advantage of it. […] It’s still a very hockey culture here and I think that will increase enthusiasm and everything. But it sure brings lots of people, people from everywhere, spectators from everywhere too, I dare to imaginehe points out.

Ottawa Christmas Market extended

Faced with crowds in the federal capital, the Ottawa Christmas market has extended its opening period.

The Ottawa Christmas Market saw the opportunity to extend their activities after December 25. So right now, excitement is really good on the agenda. There are plenty of people inside and outside of Aberdeen to enjoy all things hockey, as well as the usual Christmas market.supports the director of public affairs for Ottawa Tourism.

With information from Félix Pilon