QUÉBEC CITY NAMED BEST CANADIAN PORT

11/21/2018

A HUGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS IN 2018

Québec City, November 21, 2018 – In addition to being named the best Canadian port by Porthole Cruise magazine, the Port of Québec is continuing to grow and in 2018 experienced a major increase in the number of passengers it welcomed. The Port blew past its previous record of 200,000 visitors in 2017 to accommodate over 230,000 visitors this year.

The Port of Québec’s 2018 Season

After receiving 200,000 visitors in 2017, the Port of Québec was expecting to make a new record this year. By the end of the season, the Port had welcomed 230,940 visitors, up nearly 15% from 2017. The cruise ship passengers and crew members came sailing in on 156 ships, 14 of which embarked and disembarked in Québec City. It was the inaugural visit to the Port for eight of the ships, including the famous Disney Magic, which visited Québec City in September.

Port of Québec Named Best Canadian Port

In recent years, Québec City has made a name for itself in the Canada/New England market and is now a top destination. This month, Québec City received the Best Canada/New England Port Award from Porthole Cruise magazine as part of its 20th annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

“The Port of Québec is extremely honored to be recognized as the best port in the Canada/New England market,” said Mario Girard, President and CEO of the Port of Québec. “This recognition is a testament to our ongoing efforts to improve our operations and make the customer experience a priority.”

This award shows the international cruise industry that, in addition to being one of the best cruise destinations, Québec City’s port has the infrastructure and port development projects needed to accommodate future industry growth. This award comes on the heels of the honors the port received last July. In addition to being named the number one Top-Rated US & Canada Destination by Cruise Critic, Québec City also ranked third on the site’s list of the World’s Most Popular Cruise Destinations.

An Industry That Bolsters Tourism in the Region

The cruise industry has a big impact on tourism in the Québec City region. According to a study conducted in April 2017 by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA), the economic impact of the industry is estimated at over $221 million for the province. The economic impact for Québec City is estimated at $106 million, including $73 million in cruise line spending and $30 million in passenger spending.

“Anyone who’s had the opportunity to sail the St. Lawrence knows that when you arrive in Québec City by water, you’re treated to one of the most beautiful views in our region,” said André Roy, Director of Québec City Tourism. “It’s a view that’s on par with the world’s most beautiful tourist destinations. But it’s more than just the breathtaking scenery—our hospitality and service offer are what make us the best Canadian port on the Canada/New England market today. We hope this recognition will have a domino effect and draw more cruise operators to the city. The entire region benefits from the long-term economic spinoffs generated by cruise ship passengers and crew members, not to mention the interest that the arrival of these ships generates among the region’s residents.”

Strong Regional Collaboration

Following Québec City’s International Cruise Forum in February 2014, the city’s economic and tourism community rallied together to support the continued growth of the cruise industry. Together, members involved in the cruise industry have agreed on an objective to welcome 400,000 passengers by 2025. The Port of Québec and its partners have been actively developing cruise business and their efforts have succeeded in bringing Québec City closer to its objective every year.

The Port would like to thank all stakeholders for their contributions, including the City of Québec, whose Centre de coordination d’événements spéciaux (special events coordination centre) helped ensure coordination and a fluid flow of traffic on these high-volume days. The Port would also like to thank its partners involved in developing the cruise industry in Québec City, including Québec City Tourism, the City of Québec, Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale and Chambre de commerce de Québec, Association des croisières du St-Laurent, and Ministère du Tourisme.

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Source :

Marie-Andrée Blanchet
Conseillère, Relations publiques et événements
Administration portuaire de Québec
Tél. : (418) 648-3640
[email protected]