This document summarizes a study on tourism opportunities for English speakers on the Gaspé Coast of Quebec. The study aimed to document existing tourism activities and services and factors related to employment opportunities. Data was collected through steering committees, community consultations, and industry surveys. The results showed that most tourists are French-speaking Quebecers and Canadians, limiting opportunities for English-only workers. Anglophones felt resources and information were lacking for them. While bilingualism was important, finding bilingual staff was a challenge. The cruise industry and Aboriginal tourism were seen as opportunities. Priority actions identified included developing an English-language tourism network and partnerships to attract more English tourists and support Anglophone businesses.
2. Goal of study
Create a portrait of the tourism industry by documenting existing
activities and services.
Factors leading to this endeavour were:
o The offer and demand for English-speaking labour on the Gaspé Coast and
the related employer needs and potential employment opportunities in the
sector
o A notable serious decline in English-speaking tourists to the region over time
o The increasing influx of English-speaking tourists to the coast through the
Escale Gaspésie organization
o Anglophones' seeming lack of participation in the tourism industry
3. Methodology
Steering committees created in each MRC
Community Consultations Database containing 226 entries
Tourism Industry Database containing 48 individual entries
Anecdotal information from each of the 270 plus survey entries
4. Reality of English Language Tourism
Visitors from the province of Quebec represent 87.4 %
Visitors from other provinces represent 7.0 %
The international clientele represents 5.6 % of visitors to Quebec, the
majority of these visitors are American 3.8% while visitors from other
countries represent 1.8 % of those who visit Quebec.
In reality Quebec and Canadian visitors represent 94.4 % of Quebec
visitors and therefore the majority of tourism dollars are just being
re-cycled within the province with a small percentage of 7% from the
rest of Canada.
5. Main Results – Perceived challenges
Anglophone community members believe that English-speaking
people are limited in their ability to work in and or produce a
tourism product in English.
Belief that resources and information about government
training and funding for tourism initiatives are lacking for
English speakers in all four MRCs in the region.
An inability to communicate in French and the fact that the
majority of tourists are predominately French speaking, is
viewed as an important limiting factor for Anglophones.
There seems to be a discrepancy in what Anglophones believe
about the tourism industry and the actual English tourist
experiences.
6. Main Results – Perceived challenges
Most industry members who participated in the survey agreed
that it is important to have bilingual employees but admit that
it is often a challenge to find bilingual employees.
The growing cruise ship industry is an area which is rich in
opportunity for English speaking people. Those in charge of the
activity are open to discussions and possible collaboration on
future activities.
According to some industry members and tourists customer
service is lacking throughout the coast.
There is no cohesion within the industry and information is not
easily accessible nor in one place.
7. Main Results – Perceived challenges
Publicity and marketing are believed to be
lacking in English Canada and the United States.
Aboriginal Tourism – is not being developed to
its full potential
8. Community Consultation Results
The majority of Anglophones agreed that possibilities are limited for
unilingual English speakers to work in the tourism industry and/or
create a tourism product for the following reasons:
o Lack of information and resources in English
o Strict government policies and language laws
o Most tourists are French-speakers
o Lack of funding programs (for Anglophones)
o Employers seek French or bilingual workers
o Inability to speak French
9. Community Consultation Results
Perceived weakness of the tourism industry include:
o Transportation
o Lack of activities for children
o Lack of varied activities
o Publicity (lack of) rest of Canada and U.S.
o Few or no local souvenirs and products available
o No English signage
o Many businesses do not accept American currency
10. How can English speakers be encouraged to participate in
the tourism industry and foster the economic development
of Anglophone organizations, events and entrepreneurs.
How can the Anglophone community and industry
members encourage a greater number of English-speaking
tourists to visit the coast?
What steps must be taken in order to be ready to provide
quality tourism services and products to those tourists
when they get here?
11. Priority Actions
Unite English speakers, Anglophone organizations and
organizations who offer an English-language experience
by developing a regional tourism action plan aimed at:
attracting English-speaking tourists and
promoting the economic development of Anglophone
organizations, events and entrepreneurs.
12. Priority Actions
The plan would include steps to create a network and branding
that brings together available English experiences in order to build
a Gaspesian English-language circuit, including:
arts, culture and heritage organization
historical sites
municipalities
events and festivals
artists and artisans
accommodations
13. Priority Actions
The plan would also define ways to:
Develop partnerships with Listiguj, Gesgapegiag and
Gespeg in order to support the growth of English language
Aboriginal Tourism. (CEDEC)
Develop cruise ship partnerships with organizations that
need to develop English services for their growing
clientele.
14. Thank you to
our project
partners
• Association Touristique Régionale
de la Gaspésie
• Chief Darcy Gray, Listiguj
• Nature Aventure - Geneviève
Labonté & Jesse Allain
• Domaine du Centaure – Serge Côté
• Restaurant Chez Ron – Noreen
Hackett
• Berceau du Canada – Fabien
Sinnett
• Forillon National Park – Stephane
Marchand / Marie Claude Trudel
• Museé de la Gaspésie - Natalie
Spooner
• Adams Restaurant – Allan Adams
• Artist – G is for Gaspé – Linda
Drody
• Gespeg – Tim Adams
• Classy Glass Studios – Nancy Wright
Clapson
• Douglastown Community Centre –
Suzanne Briand
• Robins Store – Carl Bond
• Maison d’a Cothé – Myranie
Curadeau
• Medicine of the Spirit – Juliette
Barnaby Doucet
• Da Cool Bakery – Kim Martin
• From Beach to Boutique – Laura
Paul
• Agricultural Fair Shigawake – Niki
Hayes
• Duthie Point – Mary Robertson
• McDale B&B - Ann Macwhirter
• La Savonnerie Du Village (Gestion
Dan'Art Inc) - Danielle Vallée
• CLD Pointe a la Renommee ,Joanie
Francoeur
• Motel Fraser - Nadia Minassain
• Zec des Anses (Centre plein air
Harfang des Neiges) – Peter Morris
• La Magie des Plantes medicinale –
Noella Fontaine
• KD Designs – Kim Davenport
• Thunder Drums – Christine Metallic
• Scentsy – Sara Clement
• Fab Leggings – Sara Murray
• La Fermette d’Antan – Manon
Houle
• Motel Fort Ramsey – Barry Williams
