Tourisme Outaouais relies on Ottawa’s proximity

While the Ottawa and Gatineau continue year after year, to fight against their low tourist awareness relative to other regions of Québec, 2017 and its festivities of 150 th anniversary of Confederation could represent a golden opportunity to reshape the Image of the region in the minds of the visitors.

Tourisme Outaouais (TO) knows very well that this opportunity will not come back twice.

“This is really the year we can bet. We expect a lot of additional visitors. This is the time to tell the world who we are, “TO President Manuela Teixeira said during a presentation on Tuesday to the Gatineau city council of the assessment of her organization.

A study of tourism awareness of the regions of Quebec conducted in 2016 reveals that only 16% of Quebeckers identify the Outaouais when they are asked to name the first region that comes to them to spend their holidays.

“We obviously still work to do, admits M me Teixeira. We are far away from other regions with a history of tourism. ”

The Director of TO, France Bélisle, adds that contrary to regions like Gaspésie or Quebec, where the rock Percé and the castle Frontenac are necessary, “the most difficult exercise here is to choose what is -which will be on the cover of the tourist guide “.

Ottawa and the Outdoors

Outaouais Tourism candidly admits that Ottawa’s contribution to the tourism industry has been neglected for too long.

“Being next to Ottawa, this is not a weakness, it is the thing across the country that distinguishes us, insists M me Bélisle. We are the neighbors of the capital. It is up to us to position ourselves properly and play our cards well so that those who visit Ottawa know that on our side, what is offered is greenery and nature. We are the playground. We have to play that card. ”

M me Teixiera TO recalls that recently put a lot of effort to develop the identity of an active destination, outdoor and sports. This is particularly noticeable in cycling and cross-country skiing.

Waterways

The coming summer will allow the region to solidify this position, thanks to the inauguration of a brand new tourist route in Quebec, the Waterways.

“For our RCM is a new tourist offer, says M me Bélisle. This open-air tourist route will allow us to tell all those who will come this summer in the urban area to travel in our rural territories, that we have a marked road and attractions to accompany them. For the MRC, it is gold in bar. “