The 138 to the end for many tourists

A little earlier this summer, surrounded by tourists on the terrace of Natashquan’s failure, Magella Landry noticed that the dream he has had for decades was coming true: the Minganie is experiencing unprecedented tourist popularity. And it’s no coincidence.

Not that it changes much for Mr. Landry, whose housing in the hollow of the Cove of the stream is often full. But for the owner of the home port, the whole village benefits from this enthusiasm, for which he said he had been fighting since 1987.

More and more travelers who take route 138 do so to the end, according to the Côte-Nord tourism organization. Result: approximately 16,000 more visits than last year were recorded at the various tourist offices in the Minganie.

According to Joanie Francoeur-Côté, the director general of North Coast Tourism, the east of the North Shore collects the fruit of efforts which aim to raise the attractiveness of the region as a whole.

The idea behind our promotion efforts is to bring people to go further to the territory, always further. And there, we see that it works.

She is still aware that conjunctures were favorable.

Many of the tourists to have gone to Mingania are Quebecers who turn away from the United States due to the trade war with our southern neighbors.

We cannot hide it: Mr. Trump greatly helped travel to Quebec this year! Confirms Monia Petitpas, the co-owner of the restaurant La Promenade in Havre-Saint-Pierre. We owe him a little thank you … even if we will not tell him!

Visitors in a hurry

The on-board trip to the edge of the North Shore recommended by Tourism Côte-Nord may be many happy, some still emit a downside. It promotes a very specific trip type, a road getaway, during which many travelers end up hurrying.

Thus, a company like Noryak Adventures, which offers slower tourism, perhaps does not benefit as much as others from the enthusiasm for the region.

The Gabriel Rondeau guide notes that several visitors are looking for short and last -minute activities, while a kayak expedition to the Mingan Islands takes time to prepare, and to make. It requires logistics.

People sometimes come to take their photo with the sign at the end of the road and forget to take the time to absorb the landscape, corroborates Magella Landry, from the home port.

After scorching days, the banks are starting to land on the North-Côtières banks, a signal that fall approaches. Mr. Landry knows that with them another wave of tourists arrives, Those who are the least in a hurry. He will welcome them in Natashquan as he has been doing for 30 years.