CAA-Quebec vacation plan survey: Quebec in the summer, fly south for the winter!
It sounds like the roads will be busier than ever this summer, according to CAA-Quebec’s survey of holiday plans,(1) which found a strong preference for vacationing in Quebec this year.
“With 44% of respondents saying they plan to travel around Quebec this year, compared to 35% in 2018, that’s a nice bump that the local tourism industry will be thrilled about. At the same time, I’m sure if the sun decides to hide behind the clouds too long, people will head south!” says Philippe Blain, Vice President of Travel Services at CAA-Quebec.
Get ready, guests are coming!
Nearly six in ten respondents said they were planning to spend their vacation in Quebec, one of the highest proportions in recent years. But that doesn’t mean they’re just going to hang out on their deck! A full 44% said they would travel within the province. Where exactly, you say? Well, if you live in the Quebec City area, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, or Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, get ready! Guests are coming!
Why is Quebec so popular this year? Average vacation length hasn’t changed and budgets have stayed relatively stable, so the explanation must lie elsewhere. The cost of gas makes a difference for 30% of respondents. More people this year also cited the strength of the U.S. dollar and the euro compared to the Canadian dollar as a factor influencing their choice of destination. Also, more respondents referenced habit or having a second home or cottage here than in 2018.
A preference for beaches further south?
If more people are travelling in Quebec, that means there will be fewer people elsewhere. That’s not great news for destinations like Old Orchard, Ogunquit, and the like! And only 10% of vacationers plan to go to the States this summer. “According to the survey, beach destinations like Maine, New Jersey, and New Hampshire are down, while other spots closer to home like Ontario and New York are gaining in popularity. In a word, if you want to go to the beach, go all in for some serious southern sun! At our Travel Centres we are noticing people are more and more inclined to just fly to Mexico or the Caribbean in the summer,” continues Blain.
European destinations are on the rise
Every year since 2015, Europe has inched up in people’s vacation plans, with 9% of Quebecers planning to visit it this summer. It is especially popular among travellers age 18 to 24, with one in five thinking of crossing the Atlantic this summer!
About CAA-Québec
CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization, that assists each of its members by providing mobility, travel, insurance, and residential benefits, products, and services. Its CAA-Quebec Travel division maintains a presence across most of the province with 14 Travel Centres, marketing exclusive tours and cruises as well as custom-tailored products for all types of traveller.
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(1) Online survey of 1,007 Quebecers age 18 and over conducted by Leger for CAA-Quebec between April 12 and 21, 2019. The margin of error for a probability sample of the same size is approximately 3.1%.