PHOTO: A cruise ship docks in Québec City. (Photo by Beau Portrait courtesy of Quebec City Tourism)
The Québec government has budgeted $55 million to improve passenger greeting infrastructure at the ports of Québec and Montréal.
The news was welcomed by Cruise the Saint Lawrence (CSL), a partnership that develops and promotes cruising to nine ports on the Saint Lawrence River.
"This announcement represents a crucial step in efforts devoted to secure funding, and we greatly appreciate the support provided by the Government of Québec," said Tony Boemi, president of CSL and Vice President-Growth and Development at the Port of Montréal. "As our Saint Lawrence ports of call pursue their ambitious goal of providing the best welcome in the world, readers will understand that the cruise experience begins and ends at one or other of our primary gateways to the Saint Lawrence, namely the ports of Québec and Montréal."
The Port of Québec plans to spend $35 million to improve its cruise ship greeting infrastructure to better satisfy the demand of the ever-increasing traffic. The Port of Montréal plans to spend $20 million to restore both Alexandra Pier and the marine passenger terminal.
The mission of Cruise the Saint Lawrence is to position Destination Saint Lawrence with cruise companies by defining and coordinating development efforts and partner/port of call attributes.
In 2015, Destination Saint Lawrence expects to welcome over 275,000 passengers and 100,000 crew members, more than double the number in 2008. Success of this order requires an upgrade of infrastructure to better provide for ever increasing traffic, while enhancing the overall cruise experience.
Destination Saint Lawrence includes nine ports of call - Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Havre Saint-Pierre, Gaspésie, and the Magdalen Islands.
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