10 million business tourism fund - Minister Caroline Proulx announces financial incentives to attract international business events

QUÉBEC CITY, March 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Caroline Proulx^, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region, is continuing the deployment of the $10 million International Business Tourism Stimulus Fund, which began in October 2023, with the launch of a third component. The aim is to convince organizers to choose Quebec as the venue for international business events.

Financial support of up to $200,000 per event will be calculated on the basis of the number of participants and increased according to the following parameters:

• the proportion of them from outside Canada;
• a link with a Quebec niche of excellence, an innovation zone, an industrial cluster or one of the high-potential tourism sectors identified by the Ministry of Tourism (winter tourism, nature tourism, aboriginal tourism, upscale tourism, gourmet tourism);
• the event location;
• coverage of regional transport costs for participants, when these costs are borne by the organizer.

The fund, which is designed to stimulate business tourism in Quebec, was created to increase regional economic spin-offs on a sustainable basis, promote Quebec abroad, support niches of excellence and encourage the financial commitment of partners. It is one of the initiatives of the Business Tourism Action Plan 2023-2026launched by the Minister of Tourism in November 2023.

Tourisme Laval manages the fund with the support of a steering committee made up of representatives of the industry and the Ministry of Tourism.

Quotes :

"Business tourism attracts people from all over the world and generates significant tourism spin-offs. Destinations are competing fiercely to attract world-class events, and that's why our government is taking action to ensure the full revival of this strategic sector. I invite the players in this field to take advantage of this fund, created specifically to meet their needs.

Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region

"Hosting international business events is a unique platform for promoting Quebec's sectors of excellence. Such events strengthen the ties between the international and Quebec business communities. In collaboration with the steering committee, Tourisme Laval is committed to maximizing the benefits of this fund, which contributes to sustainable economic growth."

Christine Métayer, President and CEO of Tourisme Laval

Highlights :

• This section is aimed at any organization wishing to hold an international business event, including :
  • destination management bodies;
  • economic development organizations or services;
  • research and teaching institutes, or people specializing in research and associated with these types of establishments;
  • local branches of international organizations.
  • or other territorial, sectoral or economic organizations involved in attracting this type of event.
• Components 1 and 2, launched in October 2023, are still active. Their purpose is to provide financial support for business plans, application books and canvassing activities.
• Organizations wishing to submit an application are invited to consult the applicant's guide and the documents required on the program's web page.
• The program ends on March 31, 2026.
• Business tourism in figures :
  • For the Palais des congrès de Montréal and the Centre des congrès de Québec alone, business tourism in 2022-2023 represented a total of 547 events and some 976,523 attendees, generating over 319,000 overnight stays.
  • During the same period, economic spin-offs were estimated at nearly $584.1 million.
  • In 2018-2019, the other regions of Quebec also contributed to the growth of this sector. Considering only the intra-Quebec market, they hosted nearly 3,500 business events, attended by 617,000 people. These events generated $664 million in direct spending in local economies.

Related link:

Fund to boost international business tourism

Ministry of Tourism on social media :

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SOURCE Office of the Minister of Tourism

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Source:
Brigitte Roussy,
Press Attaché, Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region
Tel.: 514 248-0160
[email protected]

For further information, please contact
Jean-Manuel Téotonio,
Media Relations Manager, Communications Branch, Ministry of Tourism
Tel.: 418 643-5959, ext. 3488
[email protected]

Hélène Vézina
Director - Communications and Marketing, Tourisme Laval
Tel.: 450 682-5522, ext. 105
Cell. : 514 261-9893
[email protected]