Pascal Bérubé, Minister responsible for Tourism and the Lower Saint Lawrence Region, have announced financial support in the amount of $475 000 for Cruise the Saint Lawrence (CSL) within the scope of the Tourism Development and Promotion Support Program.
"At this juncture, it is essential to consolidate and maximize returns from investments under the Strategy for the Sustainable Development and Promotion of International Cruiseshipping on the Saint Lawrence River by enhancing the quality of cruiseshipper experience at each of our ports of call. CSL plays a key role in a number of areas and has enjoyed remarkable success in soliciting and attracting ever increasing numbers of international cruise line companies to our shores. Hence my presence among you today to proudly confirm our contribution to Québec's nine ports of call," stated Minister Bérubé.
"This contribution will enable us to take the lead in terms of positioning the Destination Saint Lawrence brand and Québec-based river cruises with external markets. As a result, we will be poised to contribute actively to bringing the government's vision to fruition. We will further enjoy the wherewithal to mobilize companies across the regions concerned, including our major urban centres, to involve themselves in implementing a greeting policy designed to enhance the overall visitor experience in our international cruise ports from Montréal to Îles de la Madeleine!" added Priscilla Nemey, President of CSL.
With the season now ended, Minister Bérubé seized the occasion to underscore the highly impressive cruiseshipping traffic figures posted by Destination Saint Lawrence for 2012. In total, 230 000 cruiseshippers and 90 000 crew members visited our different ports of call. As a result of the return of Norwegian Cruise Line, Gaspé, Québec and Saguenay welcomed over 36 000 additional cruiseshippers into port, with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Brilliance of the Seas contributing a further 24 000.
Minister Bérubé also congratulated those ports of call which had been obligated to rise to unanticipated challenges wrought by stormy or inclement weather. "The choices made by cruise companies in instances of the like speak volumes about industry confidence in the quality and capacity of our new ports of call," added Minister Bérubé.
In closing, Ms Nemey of CSL presented a brief overview of the traffic outlook for 2013. Based on current data, cruiseshippers are expected in equivalent numbers at Québec's ports of call in 2013. Ms Nemey went on to underline the redeployment of the entire fleet of Holland America Line on the Saint Lawrence in 2013, which will translate into increased traffic in the months of July and August. Additionally, the Seabourn Sojourn, owned and operated by luxury cruise line Seabourn, plans to operate three cruises on the Saint Lawrence with embarkation/disembarkation operations based in Montréal. The ship will be stopping in at seven Saint Lawrence ports of call, namely Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Saguenay, Baie‑Comeau, Gaspé and Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
