In what exceeded forecasts, Tourisme Montréal, the Canadian city’s tourism association, has announced that the city has already witnessed 100 pc visitor arrivals in H1 as compared to the in 2019 period.
In a press statement, Tourisme Montréal says that the majority of tourists were Americans and French. A 10 pc increase in the number of visitors from other countries, with 30 pc more tourists from the United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil were also noted. It adds that forecasts for the rest of the season are also optimistic. A 6 pc increase in total passenger volume is expected until October.
The board says that occupancy rate of hotels in Montréal is now that of before the pandemic with an average of nearly 80 pc, while total revenues at mid-season exceed 2019 figures by 26 pc. Hotel capacity jumped during this time by 5 pc.
The city’s festivals and events have enriched the experience of tourists and Montrealers with vibrant urban entertainment. Adding to it is event attendance like the Canadian Grand Prix, Osheaga and Just for Laughs, among others, adds the press statement.
“Our central neighbourhoods would not be so busy and lively without the influx of these millions of visitors whose satisfaction is a source of pride for all of us. They remind me why the tourism ecosystem is so passionately devoted to promoting our city. Collectively, we have been through challenging times, but our commitment to Montréal has never wavered,” says Tourisme Montréal President and CEO Yves Lalumière.
Since the start of the summer season, the city has hosted more than 80 business and sporting events, which are similar figures to those for the same period last year. For the sixth consecutive year, Montréal has been named a leading business destination by the research and documentation institute Union of International Associations (UIA), adds the press statement.