The $500 tickets did not help tourism in the Magdalen Islands, where hotels and other attractions were full this summer even before the announcement of the Legault government.
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“Bonnardel, he didn’t understand how it worked on the Islands,” says Amélie Chiasson, owner of Leblanc car rental, met by Le Journal on the archipelago.
Photo QMI Agency, Pascal Dugas Bourdon
Amélie Chiasson, Leblanc car rental
Tourism stakeholders in the Islands believe that the program of Transport Minister François Bonnardel misses the target by subsidizing tickets even in high tourist season.
Since 1er June, Quebecers can get a round trip to certain regional destinations — including the Magdalen Islands — for $500 thanks to a subsidy from the Ministère des Transports.
“You don’t offer $500 tickets when the tickets sell out anyway. It was not necessary. You can offer it, in October, in November, ”adds Mme Chiasson.
Indeed, almost all the hotels are full and you have to book weeks in advance to go to the restaurant.
The situation is so critical that some tourists are unable to rent a car and have to travel by bicycle.
Listen to Alkexandre Dubé’s interview with Jonathan Lapierre, Mayor of the Magdalen Islands on QUB radio:
In this context, Mr.me Chiasson suspects that the Bonnardel minister’s announcement was rushed to satisfy the electorate.
“There are elections in October. It’s like the $ 500 to Legault, “she laughs.
The sales manager of the Château Madelinot hotel, Ariane Bérubé, draws similar conclusions when the time comes to analyze the relevance of the program in high season.
“Would we have liked the program to allow us to extend our season in the spring and fall? The answer is yes. When we saw the result [du programme]we were a little surprised,” remarks Mr.me Bérubé, who nevertheless salutes the minister’s interest in regional transport.
“It is not too late to retract. Personally, I think we have to leave it to chance and that there is a lot of trial and error.
Similar story at Club Voyage Les Îles, which had to manage several disappointments among customers who had purchased their ticket at full price.
“July and August, I think we are at saturation point. Could the program be adapted so that these two months are excluded? asks France Groulx, co-owner of the agency.
She also notes that many have chosen to postpone the reservation of their vacation until June 1, the date of the launch of the program, hoping to be able to get their hands on one of the $500 tickets.
The office of the Minister of Transport is rather pleased to have received the support of municipal partners.
“The program is working and we are proud to have implemented this ambitious plan which aims to stimulate demand for our regions on an annual basis,” maintains press officer Claudia Loupret.
– Program of the government of Quebec which aims to “stimulate the regional economy and the resumption of tourist activities”;
– Envelope of $71 million, from June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2024;
– Offered year-round between Montreal or Quebec and some fifteen regions, including the Magdalen Islands;
– Some 100,000 tickets per year are available at a discount;
– 3,948 tickets have been sold as of June 16, 2022.
Sign that the Islands are saturated with tourists in high season, a family from Pointe-Claire, was forced to travel by bike in the archipelago, for lack of cars available for rental.
Photo QMI Agency, Pascal Dugas Bourdon
Stéphanie Milse, her husband, François Lebeau, and their two boys, Félix and Elliot, have to travel the Islands by bike, for lack of a rental car available.
The island’s car shortage disrupted the family’s plans for suburban Montreal just days after they booked their plane tickets in late May.
“Everything lined up pretty well with the flights. We found accommodation even if we were at the last minute, but we had not taken into account the situation of the cars”, admits candidly Stéphanie Milse, on vacation in the Islands since June 26.
The small family first had a plan to visit Portugal. But due to the passport crisis, she canceled her trip across the Atlantic and set her sights on the St. Lawrence archipelago.
After many calls and emails, the family of four had to face the facts: it would not be possible to travel the Magdalen Islands by car.
“We were very surprised by the situation. We didn’t expect that. We thought we should have checked before [l’achat des billets d’avion]to make sure everything is working”, admits the mother of two boys aged 1 and 3 years old afterwards.
Never mind: not shrinking from any challenge, Stéphanie Milse and her family have opted for bicycle rental. An idea that quickly charmed them.
Photo QMI Agency, Hélène Fauteux
In this regard, several people informed of their travel plans did not hesitate to serve them warnings.
“Several people told us: ‘You are crazy, don’t do that, cancel your trip!'” recognizes Mme Milse, who does not allow himself to be impressed.
In a bike rental shop in Cap-aux-Meules, it is confirmed that the situation of this family is far from unique.
“There seems to be a lot more people flying this year. It calls every day, last minute, ”explains Louis-Éric Cyr, manager of the bike workshop at Le Pédalier.
“The world does not imagine that the Islands are so vast. So they get here and realize, ‘Oh, my God, I’m 50 km from my hotel.
The shop has also recorded a 50% increase in its rentals compared to previous years, especially for electric bikes.
The archipelago had a record start to the season, according to tourism stakeholders. Even though international travel restrictions are behind us, the enthusiasm for the Magdalen Islands continues to be felt.
Photo QMI Agency, Pascal Dugas Bourdon
Marie-Claude Vigneault. Cafe de la Grave
“We feel that the season is really advanced. Almost a month in advance,” rejoices Marie-Claude Vigneault, owner of Café de la Grave, an institution on the Islands.
“We had a really busy month of May. And in June, we make days as if it were July, ”she continues.
At Château Madelinot, we are pleasantly surprised to see Quebecers still there, despite the opening of international borders.
“The tourist season started earlier, and it started faster. I’m the first surprised, and it’s a nice surprise,” explains Ariane Bérubé, sales director for the hotel complex.
Simon Barrette, a water sports instructor at Aerosport, finds it hard to believe that tourists arrived on the Islands so early.
“There are a lot of tourists in early June, and it’s something we’re really not used to. Every time I see them come into the shop, it surprises me, he says. Already, we are talking about opening earlier next season.
A start to the season that has something to delight Tourisme Îles-de-la-Madeleine. For more than a decade, the organization has tried in every way to stretch the tourist season.
“What is important for us is to moderate July and August, to try that it is spread over the other months, explains Michel Donato, general manager of Tourisme Îles-de-la-Madeleine. We have somewhat the same mandate as Public Health; we need to flatten the curve [de touristes].”
Reference-www.tvanouvelles.ca