The virtual version of the VivaCité Trail - The new and original way to
explore Québec City

QUÉBEC CITY, Sept. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - Centre local de développement (CLD) de Québec and Québec City Tourism are pleased to announce that the virtual version of the VivaCité Trail is now available for use on smart devices such as iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, adding a whole new dimension to tourists' current experience of exploring Québec City. (Available on App Store : http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/)

In practice, this new variation on the VivaCité Trail's marked walking circuit includes stations and points of interest in four typical districts: Faubourg Saint-Jean, Saint-Roch District, Old Port District and Place-Royale and Quartier Petit Champlain. Information is presented in real time and can be viewed by users in three ways: as a list according to distance (from the user to points of interest), as maps, and as augmented reality. (Click here for a video introduction : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai1FQXGlCXg)

Whatever the viewing mode selected, information is available in English or French. Not only does it provide a short introductory video for each district, but local businesses can be listed and viewed directly on the user's smart device.

The application also includes a really useful function thanks to the GPS available on some devices: geonotification. Users are notified by vibration or by a sonic alert when they approach a station or point of interest, or on entering a selected neighborhood. The information is then automatically displayed on their device.

"We consider the implementation of mobile solutions a priority," says Québec City Tourism director Gabriel Savard, pointing out the usefulness of this tool and smart phone applications. "These applications make it possible for us to improve tourists' experience by giving them a guide, a map, a local address book, a multimedia library, and a camera--right in the palm of their hands. They have all the functionalities to share memories, impressions, and photographs in a single device".

"CLD de Québec is especially pleased to be associated with the development of this virtual adaptation given that we were one of the partners behind the creation of the VivaCité Trail. We also believe that technological developments and mobile solutions have become essential for any city that wants to offer the best cutting-edge experiences to tourists. This adaptation also combines some of the benefits of technoculture development as it pairs cultural content with technological applications. It is another shining example of the specialized expertise of our local entrepreneurs, who are increasingly able to compete with the best," declared Françoise Mercure, president of CLD de Québec.

This virtual adaptation of the VivaCité Trail, available through the Les rues de Québec Mobile application, was made possible through a cooperative effort by merchant associations in relevant sectors, Québec City Tourism, and CLD de Québec.

It should be noted as well that creation of the VivaCité Trail was an initiative of Caisse populaire du Centre-Ville de Québec, Association des gens d'affaires du Faubourg, SDC du Centre-ville de Québec, Association des Gens d'affaires de Place Royale/Vieux-Port, and Coopérative de solidarité du Quartier Petit Champlain, and also CLD de Québec, in cooperation with Bureau de la Capitale-Nationale, the City of Québec, and Québec City Tourism. The Les Rues de Québec Mobile application, unveiled earlier this year (http://www.clddequebec.qc.ca/CLD_de_Quebec/index_f.aspx?ArticleID=372) - French only), is an initiative of CLD de Québec, in cooperation with the City of Québec, Conférence régionale des élus (CRÉ) de la Capitale-Nationale, and Exact Modus, mobile solutions developer.

For further information: Pierre Bouchard, Commercial Development Advisor, CLD de Québec, 418-525-4544, ext. 2708, [email protected]; Daniel Gagnon, Marketing Director, Québec City Tourism, 418-641-6654, ext. 5480, [email protected]; Source: Pierre Trahan, Communications Advisor, CLD de Québec, 418-525-4544, ext. 2262, [email protected]