Press release

For immediate release

Québec, February 10th, 2016 - Results from Québec City Tourism (OTQ) for 2015 indicate a 2.5% increase in tourist volume compared to 2014, according to Conference Board of Canada estimates. According to the same source, 4.9 million tourists visited Québec City during the same period, generating $1.4 billion in tourism spending.   

The strong U.S. dollar combined with low gas prices likely contributed to the 9.5% increase in the number of Americans visiting the province of Québec. Visits by international tourists also increased, up 7.2% for the year according to Statistics Canada data.    

Jean Lesage International Airport recorded 2.0% growth in volume, with 1.5 million passengers in 2015. Airport data proves that additional international connections helped attract more tourists from the United States and overseas. 

According to data from Institut de la statistique du Québec, more than 2.4 million rooms were booked in area hotels, an increase of 0.8%.

In the international cruise sector, Québec City continues to be a leading destination in the Canada‒New England market, having welcomed 29 different ships for a record 122 stopovers. Of the 168,000 visitors who disembarked in Québec City, 46,000 were crew members and 122,000 cruise passengers.

Looking ahead to 2016, Québec City Tourism again expects relative growth in tourism for the year.

“The arrival of Alliance de l’industrie touristique this year will strengthen our ties with other destinations, particularly Montréal which, like Québec City, is a major gateway for the province,” said Québec City Tourism director André Roy. “We will work together to maximize Québec’s international reach as a tourism destination. The exchange rate, gas prices, and increased business tourism should also help us do even better in 2016,” he added. 

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Marie Julie Couturier

Marie Julie Couturier

Press Relations