As the construction holidays begin, Quebec vacationers go further

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Chuck Rage knew Quebecers would be back.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Quebec guests canceled reservations en masse — but many told him to save deposits for future stays at his Hampton Beach, NH resort.

Now they are back. “They love our beaches, the boardwalk and the shopping – we don’t have sales tax,” said Rage, owner of Pelham Resort and a store that sells beach items and souvenirs.

Some local businesses rely on Quebecers for up to a quarter of their summer revenue.

Canadians are also returning to Maine, said Holly Roberts of the chamber of commerce that covers York Region, an area known for its beaches, lighthouses and scenic drives.

“Not as many as we had in the years before COVID, but it’s very nice to finally see them back.”

The end of most pandemic restrictions, including many cross-border travel rules, means Quebecers are packing their bags for more distant trips after two years close to home.

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I Remember license plates are once again ubiquitous in Ontario and the Maritimes as well as traditional Quebecer beach destinations such as Old Orchard and Ogunquit in Maine, and Wildwood and other Jersey Shore towns. .

Vermont businesses are also reporting an increase in the number of visitors from Quebec.

Many Quebecers will be traveling over the next two weeks during the annual construction holiday, a time when about 25% of the province’s population is on vacation.

Summer travel is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent survey of 1,000 Quebecers sponsored by CAA-Quebec, a nonprofit that provides roadside assistance and operates a travel agency.

“They have been deprived of the pleasure of traveling and this year they are taking as many trips as possible,” said CAA-Quebec spokesperson Nicolas Ryan.

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“The biggest takeaway from this year’s survey is that we were seeing numbers close to what we were seeing before the pandemic (in 2019), but we’re not there yet.”

This year:

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Quebecers can expect longer waits at US border crossings this summer, but perhaps not as long as in 2019.

In June, 1.3 million Canadian residents returned from road trips to the United States, up from just 250,000 a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada. But it is still 43% less than the trips recorded in 2019.

Canadians traveling to other countries still face certain restrictions.

For example, all travellers, whether entering Canada by air, land, rail or sea, must use the ArriveCAN app to provide their travel and COVID information. (More information is available at voyage.gc.ca.) ​​Tourists are also advised to check the rules in destination countries.

Although far fewer public health measures are in place for travelers this year, there are other challenges.

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Higher prices are expected to impact tourism, said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine tourism board.

“I think people want to travel, but they won’t travel as often and they won’t spend as much on some of these extra things, like going out for a very expensive dinner or buying souvenirs or extra clothes or whatever. “

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Normally, 2.3 million Canadians visit Maine each year, spending about US$1.3 billion. These numbers decreased in 2020 and 2021 due to lockdowns and border closures.

In the first half of 2022, the Maine trip-planning site has seen renewed interest among Quebecers, Lyons said, adding that local tourism and camping associations have reported an increase in calls from Province.

This year, the construction holiday runs from July 24 to August 6. It is estimated that 80% of Quebec’s 190,000 construction workers hang up their helmets during construction holidays. Many other Quebecers choose to take their vacations at the same time.

The other 20 percent of construction workers are involved in maintenance, renovations, emergency works, civil engineering and road works. This means drivers don’t take vacations because of detours.

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Where are Quebecers going on vacation this summer?

Source: CAA-Quebec

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