Montréal's strong summer tourism performance driven by international visitors

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - According to the most recent data compiled by Tourisme Montréal, economic indicators for the city's tourism industry continued to climb during the 2018 summer season. Montréal's economy and tourism industry are still thriving following last year's anniversary celebrations.

Montréal-Trudeau Airport reported high foreign passenger traffic in June and July, with an 8.8% increase in passengers from the U.S. and a 10.7% increase in overseas passengers. Total volumes have increased since the beginning of the year and to date Montréal has welcomed more than 11 million passengers, marking a 6.9% year-over-year gain.

International tourism is up with a 6.8% increase in overseas travellers entering Québec's borders in May and June compared with the same months last year. Since the beginning of the year, the number of overseas visitors has improved 7.2% over 2017. All of Montréal's top markets performed well, with French-speaking Europe growing 10.8% in May and June compared with the same periods last year, and Germany gaining 17.4%. Following the addition of several direct air connections to Asia, Tourisme Montréal noted substantial growth in tourists from this market, with 20.8% more Chinese visitors and 139.2% more Japanese visitors in May and June.

"Montréal is seeing increasingly higher numbers of tourists from emerging markets. Our plan is to step up our efforts to attract visitors from new Asian markets while maintaining current offensives and exploring other segments. The future of tourism is very promising in Montréal and across Québec, with international growth outpacing expectations," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

Montréal's major festivals and events were also more successful in 2018 than last year. Osheaga reported an 18% hike in ticket sales outside Quebec, including an 8% improvement in Ontario. The Festival international de Jazz de Montréal posted a 12% increase in same-day tourists and Francofolies recorded a 34% rise in tourist attendance, including a 14% increase in same-day tourists from outside Quebec. Finally, the Formula One Grand Prix du Canada sold 19% more tickets this year.

According to the latest statistics from the Greater Montréal Hotel Association, the average occupancy rate for the June to August period on the Island of Montréal fell from 88.58% in 2017 to 85.33% in 2018. Over the same period, the average room rate was $212.25, marking a 0.87% year-on-year decline. This is attributable to an increase in the total number of hotel rooms available in the downtown area.

"The tourism industry's strong performance is thanks to various promotional efforts, in addition to the destination's dynamic offer, economic vitality and the visibility gained throughout 2017," concluded Mr. Lalumière.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is a private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. The organization leads innovative tourist welcome strategies with a twofold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a quality experience and maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Uniting more than 800 tourism professionals, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to www.mtl.org.

SOURCE Tourisme Montréal