WATCH ABOVE: Quebec Tourism is investing big money this year to promote the whale-watching industry. The department is collaborating with well-known biologist and explorer Jean Lemire to try to attract tourists to the province. Caroline Plante reports.
QUEBEC CITY — Quebec’s tourism department is investing big money this year to promote the whale-watching industry.
The department is collaborating with well-known biologist and explorer Jean Lemire to try to attract Ontarians, New Brunswickers and Americans to the province.
Lemire has just returned from a three-year trip around the world. He is partnering with Quebec to promote what he calls the “exotic and authentic” whale-watching experience on the St. Lawrence River.
“Of course they will see minke whale, fin back, and there’s more and more humpback whales, a very spectacular whale, and if you’re lucky you’ll see some blue whales,” he said.
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Quebec is funding half of this year’s $600,000 2015 whale advertising campaign, which has the objective of not only attracting newcomers to the province, but also convincing Quebecers to stay home for the summer holidays.
“Last year, 300,000 people came to whale watch,” said Quebec’s Tourism Minister Dominque Vien.
“It’s an increase of 100 per cent from the previous year.”
But there’s room for many more visitors, said the head of Croisières AML, Yan Hamel.
“We can increase participation without creating more traffic,” he said, while promising not to put more boats in circulation.
Instead, each boat will carry more people, in order to respect the whale population feeding in the St. Lawrence River.
“When we work together, the public, the government and the industry, this is when we’re able to really have the best results in terms of conservation,” added Lemire.
Lemire is encouraging people to drive just a few hours north and discover something truly mesmerizing.
“The experience that tourists can have going out there and seeing whales could change some people,” he said.
“I’m a good example: it changed my life and I’m just hoping we will change lives.”
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