MONTREAL — Tourisme Montréal has launched its Bonjour Chine training program — offered to more than 150 partners and members of Montreal’s tourism industry.
The Bonjour Chine program teaches participants how to effectively welcome Chinese tourists and cater to their preferences in an effort to encourage these visitors to prolong their stay and tour other regions of Quebec. The training program is part of Tourisme Montréal’s broader strategy to enrich the visitor experience by enhancing the overall quality of tourist hospitality in the city.
“This certification enables us to rise to the occasion and fulfill our role as the official port of entry to Quebec. We plan to collaborate with key tourism associations within Quebec and offer this training to their members,” says Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.
According to estimates, more than 124,000 Chinese tourists visited Montreal in 2017. This number is expected to rise 15 per cent in 2018 to 142,200, followed by increases of 13 per cent in 2019 and 12 per cent in 2020. Thanks to direct air connections and promotional initiatives, China is set to become the second most important overseas market for Montreal within the next five years.
