MONTRÉAL, April 15, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Tourisme Montréal, in collaboration with its industry members, kicked off the 2016 summer tourist season this morning at the annual spring tourism fair. The organization is predicting a strong summer tourist season marked with an influx of travellers from the United States, Ontario and other regions of Québec.
According to the Conference Board of Canada, the volume of tourists is expected to grow by approximately 2.9% overall in 2016. This growth is expected to be around 5.6% in 2017. So far this year, the number of international tourists entering at Québec borders has already increased by 13.6%. If the favourable economic environment persists, this growth should continue throughout the year, particularly this summer.
"Tourism is one of the major industries expected to continue growing in Québec through to 2020. The promising forecasts for 2016 and the excitement building around the city's 375th anniversary are winning conditions to make Montréal a leading international tourist destination," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.
A wide range of new summer attractions in Montréal
There's no doubt that Montréal is enjoying unprecedented momentum. With 2017 fast approaching, the city is actively refreshing its offer this year. On the agenda is the inauguration of an innovative new hotel this summer, the William Gray, and the opening of new attractions that will help Montréal stand out as a tourist destination. These include:
Montréal en histoires: Beginning in May, the Cité Mémoire project will transport visitors through Montréal's history by leading them along a technologically enhanced route through Old Montréal.
Au Sommet Place Ville Marie: This new viewpoint on Montréal will also feature an interactive and participative activity for visitors to take part in, based on 11 themes related to modern-day Montréal.
In addition, Montréal's top museums will offer visitors some very original programming. The Montréal Museum of Fine Arts will feature the exhibition Toulouse-Lautrec illustrates the Belle Époque, and will also open a new Pavilion for Peace, featuring several works from the Michal et Renata Hornstein collection. Meanwhile, the Musée d'art contemporain will showcase works by Edmund Allen, while the McCord Museum hosts the Canadian premiere of Eleganza: Italian Fashion from 1945 to Today. Pointe-à-Callière Museum will present the Of Horses and Men — The Émile Hermès Collection, Paris for five months.
Summer tourism will be bolstered by the business travel and sports tourism sectors, as Montréal prepares to host several large-scale events and conferences, including the World Social Forum 2016 and Nacubo 2016. These two conferences alone will draw more than 50,000 delegates to the city this summer.
"I encourage our partners and members to become true ambassadors of the city as we work to make Montréal one of the most highly sought-after destinations on the planet," said Mr. Lalumière.
About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position the "Montréal" destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market.
For more information, visit www.mtl.org.
Further details on what's new for summer 2016 is available in our technical data sheet (in French).
SOURCE Tourisme Montréal
Andrée-Anne Pelletier, Manager - Corporate Public Relations, Tourisme Montréal, 514-844-3344 / 514-264-1638, [email protected]
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