Tourism in Quebec

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Tour KPMG from Saint Catherine Street, Montreal Montral-Tour KPMG.JPG
Tour KPMG from Saint Catherine Street, Montreal
Chateau Frontenac, Vieux-Quebec (Old Quebec), Quebec City Le chateau Frontenac Vieux-Quebec, ville de Quebec, Quebec.jpg
Château Frontenac, Vieux-Québec (Old Quebec), Quebec City

Tourism is the fifth-largest industry in Quebec. Some 29,000 companies are involved in the industry, generating 130,000 direct and 48,000 indirect jobs. [1] In 2006, Quebec welcomed 3.2 million foreign tourists, most of them from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Japan. [2]

Contents

Quebec's French heritage sets the province apart from the most of Canada and the United States, as well as Mexico. The province has preserved its Francophone culture with a European feel. [3]

Location of Quebec

Location of Quebec QC-Canada-province.png
Location of Quebec

Quebec is located in the northeast portion of North American and occupies an area of 1,667,926 km2 (643,820 sq. mi.). [4] It is the largest province in Canada with three times as much area as France. It borders on the United States to the south and Ontario to the west. Over 90% of its territory is made up of the Canadian Shield. Most of its population lives in the area surrounding the St. Lawrence River in what is commonly called the St. Lawrence Lowlands. The Appalachian Mountains occupy the southern portion of Quebec.

Culture and language

Language

Largely French in terms of language and culture, Quebec has preserved its Francophone heritage in the midst of a strong Anglophone culture. French is the mother tongue of 82% of Quebecers, and English is the mother tongue of 10% of the population. The remaining 8% is divided among some 30 languages such as, in order of importance, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Greek. [5] Over 40% of the population is bilingual. In major cities like Montreal, this percentage is as high as 64%, and 16% of the population speaks a third language. [5]

Culture

Quebecers enjoy dining and celebrating, which is clear from the many festivities that take place in Quebec. They also enjoy literature, the performing arts, painting, sculpture and fine crafts. Quebec talent has made its mark on the world, such as Cirque du Soleil, Céline Dion, and Jacques Villeneuve.

Tourist regions

Beach and cliffs of Magdalen Island (Iles-de-la-Madeleine) Plages et falaises Iles-de-la-Madeleine Quebec.jpg
Beach and cliffs of Magdalen Island (Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
Sunset in Gaspesie Coucher de soleil Gaspesie Quebec.jpg
Sunset in Gaspésie

Quebec is made up of 21 tourist regions:

Major cities

The two largest cities in Quebec are Montreal and Quebec City.

Four ways to discover Quebec

Downtown streets of Montreal, Quebec Centre-ville de Montreal.jpg
Downtown streets of Montreal, Quebec

Quebec offers four different tourist experiences, each with a wide range of activities.

The City Experience

Montreal

The only Francophone metropolis in North America, Montreal is also the second largest Francophone city after Paris in terms of population. [6] This major centre of 4.1 million inhabitants is a tapestry of cultures from the world over with its many neighbourhoods, including Chinatown, the Latin Quarter, the Gay Village, Little Italy, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, the Quartier International and Old Montreal. [7] Montreal [8] has a rich architectural heritage, along with cultural activities, sports events and festivals. The city is celebrating its 375th anniversary in 2017.

Quebec City

The capital, Quebec City, is the only fortified city in North America. The oldest Francophone city in North America, Quebec City was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 and celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2008.

Resorts

Terrace in la Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec Terrasse a La Malbaie Charlevoix Quebec.jpg
Terrace in la Malbaie, Charlevoix, Quebec

The St. Lawrence River

A whale's tail in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec Queue de baleine Manicouagan Quebec.jpg
A whale's tail in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec

The St. Lawrence River is one of the largest rivers in the world and historically was the means of access to the centre of North America. Its 1,800 kilometres (1,120 mi.) are lined with coastal villages, bird and marine mammal sanctuaries, lighthouses and verdant and rocky shores. The river is one of the largest navigable waterways in the world, and its estuary is known for its marine mammals, birds and fish.

Upstream from Montreal to the tip of Gaspésie, a road borders the shores of the St. Lawrence River, allowing drivers to explore a coastline that changes from mountainous to rural to wilderness. [9] Visitors can explore the rich Saguenay Fjord.

The 1,600-kilometre (994-mi.) St. Lawrence River [10] transforms into a gulf that is more like an inland sea. The Gulf of St. Lawrence can be travelled by ferry, sailboat, kayak or cruise ship. Whale watching is popular in Quebec, particularly in Tadoussac.

There are also islands and archipelagos [10] scattered along the river. The Île d'Anticosti and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine have legends from sailors and fishermen who continue to live there.

Adventures

Aboriginal tourism, Baie-James, Quebec Tipi d'ecorce Baie-James Quebec.jpg
Aboriginal tourism, Baie-James, Quebec

For those who enjoy the outdoors and adventure, [11] Quebec's wide open spaces allow outdoor sports, hunting and fishing:

What to do

Sports and outdoors

Cyclotourism in Quebec Coucher de soleil Iles-de-la-Madeleine Quebec.jpg
Cyclotourism in Quebec

Sports and outdoor activities in Quebec [12] can be enjoyed summer and winter:

Sites and attractions

[12]

Reford Gardens in Gaspesie, Quebec Jardin de Metis Gaspesie Quebec.jpg
Reford Gardens in Gaspésie, Quebec

Tourism routes

Cross-country skiing in Gaspesie, Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, Laurentians, Quebec Ski de fond et chalet Parc national du Mont Tremblant, Laurentides Quebec.jpg
Cross-country skiing in Gaspésie, Parc national du Mont-Tremblant, Laurentians, Quebec

The four seasons

Festivals and events

[40] Quebec's events include sports, cultural events and festivals. [41]

Cultural events

Just For Laughs Festival, Montreal, Quebec Festival Juste pour rire de Montreal, Quebec.jpg
Just For Laughs Festival, Montreal, Quebec

Montreal

Quebec City

Gatineau

Sports events

Montreal

Cuisine

Quebec cuisine Gastronomie de Montreal, Quebec.jpg
Quebec cuisine

Quebec's cuisine [42] derives its rich flavour from a blend of influences. It has a French culinary base and is enriched by the contribution of the Amerindian peoples and the communities that have made the province their home. Terroir products that grace Quebec tables include ice cider, micro-brewed beer, wine and over 100 varieties of cheese.

Another feature of Quebec is the sugar shack, [42] a family culinary tradition of eating maple products to the rhythms of Quebec folklore (beginning of spring, during March and April).

Others Quebec culinary specialities include: shepherd's pie, poutine, sugar cream pie, pouding chômeur (a sponge cake with a maple syrup sauce), maple syrup, baked beans, tourtière (a meat pie), cretons (a pork spread with onions and spices), etc.

Transportation

Transportation [43] to Quebec includes plane, bus, train and car. There are flights to Quebec from major cities in North America, Europe and Asia. [44] Montreal is a 70-minute flight from New York and is less than 6 hours and 45 minutes by air from London or Paris. Provinces and states that border Quebec are served by rail and road networks. Other means of transportation such as boat and snowmobile can also be used by the more adventurous.

Quebec has a road and air network for travel between cities, using car, bus, plane, train, bicycle on the Route Verte, or by ferry.

Lodging

Auberge du Tresor in Quebec City Auberge du Tresor in Quebec city.jpg
Auberge du Trésor in Quebec City
"Holiday Centre" classification certificate signboard SivanandaCampQCsign 20151005 (22139742163).jpg
"Holiday Centre" classification certificate signboard

Quebec has 5,800 establishments that hold official lodging certificates, from youth hostels to five-star hotels. Establishments are classified using a stars and sun system. [45] Possibilities include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf of St. Lawrence</span> Outlet of the North American Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean

The Gulf of St. Lawrence fringes the shores of the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, in Canada, plus the islands Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, possessions of France, in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day</span> Holiday celebrated on June 24

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, also known in English as St John the Baptist Day, is a holiday celebrated on June 24 in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was brought to Canada by French settlers celebrating the traditional feast day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. It was declared a public holiday in Quebec in 1925, with publicly financed events organized province-wide by a Comité organisateur de la fête nationale du Québec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatineau</span> City in Quebec, Canada

Gatineau is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the northern bank of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario. Gatineau is the largest city in the Outaouais administrative region of Quebec and is also part of Canada's National Capital Region. As of 2021, Gatineau is the fourth-largest city in Quebec with a population of 291,041, and it is part of the Ottawa-Gatineau census metropolitan area with a population of 1,488,307 making it the fourth largest in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebec City</span> Provincial capital of Quebec, Canada

Quebec City, officially Québec, is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is the twelfth-largest city and the seventh-largest metropolitan area in Canada. It is also the second-largest city in the province, after Montreal. It has a humid continental climate with warm summers coupled with cold and snowy winters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saguenay, Quebec</span> City in the province of Québec, Canada

Saguenay is a city in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada, on the Saguenay River, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Quebec City by overland route. It is about 126 kilometres (78 mi) upriver and northwest of Tadoussac, located at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River. It was formed in 2002 by merging the cities of Chicoutimi and Jonquière and the town of La Baie. Chicoutimi was founded by French colonists in 1676. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 145,000 and the metropolitan area had a population of 165,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longueuil</span> City in Quebec, Canada

Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and the central city of the urban agglomeration of Longueuil. It sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2021 Census totalled 254,483, making it Montreal's second largest suburb, the fifth most populous city in Quebec and twentieth largest in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verdun, Quebec</span> Borough of Montreal in Quebec, Canada

Verdun is a borough (arrondissement) of the city of Montreal, Quebec, located in the southeastern part of the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Helen's Island</span> Island in Canada

Saint Helen's Island is an island in the Saint Lawrence River, in the territory of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It forms part of the Hochelaga Archipelago. It is situated immediately offshore from Old Montreal on the southeastern side of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, and is part of the central borough of Ville-Marie. The Le Moyne Channel separates it from Notre Dame Island. Saint Helen's Island and Notre Dame Island together make up Jean-Drapeau Park.

Autoroute 20 is a Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely populated parts of Canada, with its central section forming the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway from the A-25 interchange to the A-85 interchange. At 585 km (363.5 mi), it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec. It is one of two main links between Montreal and Quebec City; the other is the A-40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Plateau-Mont-Royal</span> Borough of Montreal in Quebec, Canada

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal is a borough (arrondissement) of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Autoroute 30 (A-30), or the Autoroute de l'Acier is an Autoroute in Quebec, Canada. Construction of the A-30 dates back to the early days of autoroute construction in the 1960s. Originally called Highway 3, the A-30 was designed to replace Route 132 as the main artery linking the communities along the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River. The A-30 was originally intended to begin at the U.S. border near Dundee and end at Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets. In the late 1970s an eight-year moratorium on new autoroute construction in favour of public transport by the Parti Québécois prevented implementation of that plan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montreal</span> Largest city in Quebec, Canada

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest in Canada, and the tenth-largest in North America. Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or "City of Mary", it is now named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill around which the early settlement was built. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal and a few much smaller peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard. The city is 196 km (122 mi) east of the national capital, Ottawa, and 258 km (160 mi) southwest of the provincial capital, Quebec City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Société des casinos du Québec</span>

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Matane is a former provincial electoral district in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions of Quebec, Canada, that elected members to the National Assembly of Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sainte-Anne-des-Monts</span> City in Quebec, Canada

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, is a city in La-Haute-Gaspésie Regional County Municipality, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, Quebec province, in Canada.

The Route verte is a network of bicycling and multiuse trails and designated roads, lanes, and surfaces in Quebec, Canada. The trail network inaugurated on August 10, 2007, and spans 5,034 kilometres (3,128 mi) as of 31 October 2013. It includes both urban trails and cycling routes into quite isolated areas in the north, as well as along both sides of the Saint Lawrence River, out to the Gaspésie region, and on the Magdalen Islands, linking more than 320 municipalities along the way. The Route Verte is not entirely composed of trails, as nearly 61% of the network actually consists of on-road surfaces, whether regular roads with little traffic, wide shoulders, special lanes on highways, or otherwise. The segregated trails are mostly rail trails shared-use with hikers and other users.

Alexander Reford is a historian by training, with master's degrees in history from the University of Toronto and Oxford University. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1962, he was raised and educated in the Outaouais region of Québec. He held the position of Dean of College at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto from 1987 to 1995. He left to assume the directorship of Les Jardins de Métis, a cultural destination and tourist attraction located on the banks of the St. Lawrence in Grand-Métis, Quebec. The great-grandson of Elsie Reford, creator of the Gardens, he was instrumental in creating the not for profit organization that purchased them from the Quebec government in 1995. Under his stewardship, a complete restoration of the gardens and the historic buildings on the property has been undertaken.

<i>La Détente</i> 2011 French film

La Détente is a 2011 short French film directed by Pierre Ducos and Betrand Bey. It has won several prizes, including Best of show award at SIGGRAPH Asia 2011 and Best Animation award at the Sapporo International Short Film Festival. The film tells the story of a French soldier in World War I who becomes paralyzed with fear while in the trenches. He escapes in his head to an imaginary world where toys fight wars instead of humans. Eric Liu, chair of the Computer animation festival at SIGGRAPH Asia 2011, called La Détente a standout of the festival, saying "This animation short brings a unique and visually stunning computer-generated animation to the audience."

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