Press release

QUÉBEC CITY NAMED BEST CANADA/NEW ENGLAND CRUISE DESTINATION

Québec City, November 10, 2023 – The Port of Québec and Destination Québec cité are proud to announce that Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine this week gave the Best Canada/New England Cruise Destination award for 2023 to Québec City. Each year, thousands of the magazine’s readers vote across several categories including cruise lines, port facilities and destinations. Québec City is the only Canadian destination to win an award in 2023 and joins the ranks of other renowned destinations like Amsterdam, Bora Bora, Istanbul, and Singapore.

“We are honoured to receive the award for best Canadian cruise destination following such a successful cruise season. Our employees and industry stakeholders were exceptional this year. We put everything in place to provide incomparable service and customer experience. The acknowledgement confirms the Port of Québec’s leading position in international cruises,” declared Port of Québec CEO Mario Girard.

“We are always pleased to see that our destination stands out with tourists and cruise passengers and that our efforts to develop the international cruise industry bear fruit. This recognition sets the stage for the upcoming arrival of the first winter cruise ship on the Saint Lawrence which will introduce visitors to the magical, snow-covered city,” added Destination Québec cité General Manager, Robert Mercure.

"Our readers have high expectations of all of the many destinations they visit, and Québec City won them over with its sincere charm, its deep history, and a culinary scene that's constantly surprising and consistently delightful. This is their favorite port in the Canada/New England region, and one of their favorite places in the world." stated Bill Panoff, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of the Porthole Cruise and Travel Magazine.

The Port thanks all stakeholders, including Québec City’s Major Events Office, which helped coordinate the smooth flow of traffic throughout the season. We also thank our partners who helped develop the industry in the city, namely the City of Québec, the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale, Québec City's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association, and Québec's Ministry of Tourism.

About Cruises 
Québec City has risen to the front ranks of the world’s prized destinations according to many cruise lines and the tourism media. This popularity helps generate major economic and tourism benefits for the region. In the 2019 season, the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association estimated that these returns were in excess of $700 million for the province including $106 million for the Québec City region. 

About Port of Québec
The Québec Port Authority, a non-profit organization, manages the Port of Québec which is strategically located to serve North America’s industrial and agricultural heartland. This Canadian hub for international trade for both the import and export of goods is the only port in the province of Québec with a fifteen-meter depth of water at low tide and a comprehensive intermodal infrastructure. The port facilities generate 12,000 jobs and about two billion dollars in economic activity.

The Port of Québec’s Vision 2035 underlines its desire for citizens to recognize it for its responsible management of the territory, respect for the environment, and protection of biodiversity, as it positions itself as a world leader in the development of sustainable supply chains serving a more resilient economy.

About Destination Québec cité 
Destination Québec cité has over 825 members over a territory including Québec City, Ancienne-Lorette, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake the regional county municipalities of Portneuf, Jacques-Cartier, Île d'Orléans and Côte-de-Beaupré.

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Source and information:
Frédéric Lagacé
Communications Director – Port of Québec
[email protected]
418 929-5031

Jessie Deschamps
Destination Québec cité
[email protected]
581 995-0972