MONTREAL — According to the latest report from Tourisme Montreal, 2017 marked a year of tourism growth for the city of Montreal.
The city’s tourist volumes grew 5.1-per-cent over 2016, for a total of 11.1-million visitors. In addition, tourist spending increased 9.7 per cent, to reach $4 billion for the year as a whole. Montreal recorded the highest growth in tourism among all Quebec destinations.
International tourism continued its upswing with 11-per-cent more overseas tourists entering Quebec in 2017. According to the Conference Board of Canada, the number of tourists from France — Montreal’s leading market — grew 9 per cent, while the number of Chinese tourists soared 33 per cent to make China the city’s second most important overseas market. Inbound traffic from Mexico grew 50 per cent, confirming a very promising outlook for this market.
According to the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal, the average occupancy rate for hotels on the island was 76.5 per cent, at an average price of $184.31 in 2017. The average room rate was $214.10 during the summer (June to August), marking an 11.7-per-cent hike compared with the same period in 2016.
Business tourism was also strong for 2017. Tourisme Montreal’s business-travel team recorded more than 380,000 confirmed overnight stays in commercial accommodations — 15-per-cent more than in 2016.
Events held to mark Montréal’s 375th anniversary led to a six-per-cent boost in attendance at the city’s tourist attractions. Several legacies of the 375th anniversary celebrations — such as Cité Mémoire – Montréal en Histoire, the light displays on Jacques-Cartier Bridge and the addition of new attractions, including La Grande Roue de Montréal and the new pavilions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Pointe-à-Callière — have also enhanced the city’s entertainment profile and revived its tourism pull.
“Not only was 2017 a historic year, it also propelled Montreal onto the world stage,” says Yves Lalumière, president and CEO of Tourisme Montreal. “The city is now more vibrant and dynamic than ever. What’s more, tourism was one of the main drivers of the city’s economy last year. Several factors contributed to the growth in tourism, including new direct air connections, promotional efforts in the conventions market and a considerable push to market Montréal as a destination.”
