Spring tourists have arrived in Gaspésie

Sylvie Tassé is making her first trip of the year to Gaspésie aboard her Westfalia.

The region, in the spring, is a destination of choice for those who have left the Laurentians with their spouse. There are not too many people. We like when we are a little more alone, we are a little wilds, she confides, laughing. Lobster season is starting. [On va] perhaps [manger] a little lobster roll this noon.

Sylvie Tassé is on vacation in Carleton-sur-Mer with her spouse.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

Also on a trip to Gaspésie, Madone Poirier takes advantage of the long weekend to feast on seafood. We go down at this time because we can have fresh crab, not frozen. The weather is nice and the road is beautifulshe adds.

Madone Poirier, from Quebec, is on vacation in Carleton-sur-Mer.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

This year, we note the great return of international tourists to a hotel in Carleton-sur-Mer.

We have French tourists who already come for holidays at this time of year. We received Spanish tourists, too, last week. And there, we notice more and more English-speaking tourists from other Canadian provinces and the United States.says the director of operations at Manoir Belle Plage, Héloïse Tanguay-Beaumont.

At the Manoir Belle Plage, you can already feel the enthusiasm of tourists from abroad.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

Starting next week, it will be the turn of the Carleton-sur-Mer municipal campground to open its doors. The City hopes that Mother Nature will cooperate.

The mayor of Carleton-sur-Mer, Mathieu Lapointe, photographed in front of the Pointe Tracadigash lighthouse, near the campsite.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

We expect to have a very good month of Juneindicates the mayor of Carleton-sur-Mer, Mathieu Lapointe. So far bookings are good. We have a lot of reservations for the month of June. Last year was an exceptional season, a record year! We think we may be able to reach these figuresbelieves the chosen one.

The trend of spring tourism is emerging

And after two years of pandemic, Quebecers still see Gaspésie as a vacation destination of choice, even in the spring. The trend is a delight for the Gaspé tourist industry, which has been working for several years to extend the tourist season.

Even though the borders are open, people still want to visit Quebec. They still want to visit the places they discovered during the pandemic, where they would not have gone before, and it continues this summerrejoices Ms. Tanguay-Beaumont.

Héloïse Tanguay-Beaumont is Director of Operations at Manoir Belle Plage.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

Spring tourism has gained groundadds the marketing and communications director of Tourisme Gaspésie, Stéphanie Thibaud.

This resulted last year in higher than usual occupancy rates. The context of the pandemic has a lot to do with it, but it can still be seen this year, we can feel it. In 2021, Gaspésie accommodations had an occupancy rate of 54.7% in June, says Ms. Thibaud.

The Regional Tourist Association has been working for a long time to extend the tourist season before and after summer. Tourisme Gaspésie tries to put forward activities different from those offered during the summer season. You can still do spring skiing, but there is also canyoning and raftingshe lists.

There are many tourists in Carleton-sur-Mer.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose

After carrying out a market study, the organization noted the interest of 18 to 34 year olds for spring stays in Gaspésie. We want to offer them microadventuresadds the marketing director.

Tourisme Gaspésie is also developing a promotional campaign, focused exclusively on spring tourism, which will be launched next year. For the first time, this advertising approach will be separated from the summer promotion.

Based on the report by Isabelle Larose