Free parking spaces provided by Quebec municipalities have multiplied and this very popular offer with nomadic holidaymakers irritates camping owners.
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Currently, 1,700 spaces, almost all free, are displayed on the Night VR stop site, a reference for caravanners who want to land for one night during their journey.
“We have 193 localities integrated into our repertoire. They offer 272 alternative parking lots each counting several spaces, ”confirms the initiator of this platform, France Lanouette.
The retiree from the Quebec region, which volunteers volunteer since 2021, specifies that it has only responded to a need for travelers.
There are many nomadic caravanners to stop at Pointe Park, in Rivière-du-Loup, where parking is free for one night.
Photo SABRINA GARCEAU
At the start, she contacted the municipalities one by one to create her repertoire of a hundred localities, and since then, it is 15 to 20 cities which are added each year.
Camping Québec admits that gratuities disturb landowners. They lose this clientele who could stop or even stay in their facilities.
“We are the only type of tourist accommodation that is confronted with competition from a certain free offer,” says Director General, Julie Trahan.
His organization works with municipalities to make them aware of this reality.
There are many nomadic caravanners to stop at Pointe Park, in Rivière-du-Loup, where parking is free for one night.
Photo SABRINA GARCEAU
The fault of the pandemic
Even if the phenomenon existed long before 2020 in businesses like Walmart, farms or vineyards, the Pandemic of COVID-19 has changed everything.
Several towns and villages then allowed travelers to spend the night on their municipal grounds, which became a beautiful alternative, while the campsites were overflowing since they could not make the most of their capacity.
But like teleworking, this service offer that was intended to be temporary is still in place. She even gained momentum, notes France Lanouette.
«It is very good for traders and for the local economy. […] We must always keep in mind that it is like giving-and. You welcome me at home, well, I give it back to you, ”she explains.
Good for cities
Another Quebec platform launched in 2017, which worked almost only with agrifood companies and tourist sites, opened its pages to two cities in the province.
The application offers alternative parking lots in Trois-Rivières and Granby.
Photo provided by Terego
“It was indeed the municipalities that have communicated with us,” said the co -owner of Terego Karine Morin.
She explains that they have chosen strategic places that highlight the beautiful landscapes.
«[Elles le font] So that travelers have a great experience, they talk about it and have good advertising for the city. ”
Rivière-du-Loup is another city that followed the movement.
Since last summer, it is possible for small VRs to park overnight at the Pointe Park, which gives a breathtaking view of the sunsets.
“Vanlife is people in love with nature who want to wake up in the morning and make a cappuccino while looking at the river or a lake. […] They will not go to campsites. These people, we still wanted to hold them back, “said a spokesperson for the city of Rivière-du-Loup, Pascal Tremblay.
The Walmart of Rivière-du-Loup is one of the most popular places to spend the night with its VR because of its proximity to Highway 20, which leads to the Gaspésie, and the 85 motorway, to New Brunswick.
Photo SABRINA GARCEAU
Walmart always rages them
In addition to municipal fields and parking, Quebec campsites are also in competition with the Walmart, which is still as popular with passing travelers.
The manager of the Lido campsite, in Saint-Antonin, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, deplores that the Walmart of Rivière-du-Loup, located less than 10 minutes from its site, the champion store of the Clandestine campsite in Quebec.
A bit like Uber for taxis or Airbnb for hotels, Marc Beaudry sees it as unfair competition.
“Yes, summer, weekend is complete. But the week, I have room. It is certain that I would take some of them, customers, ”says the businessman.
The Walmart of Rivière-du-Loup is one of the most popular places to spend the night with its VR because of its proximity to Highway 20, which leads to the Gaspésie, and the 85 motorway, to New Brunswick.
Photo SABRINA GARCEAU
Go see the elected officials
After the summer season, the latter intends to challenge municipal elected officials on the supply of alternative parking lots, which is exploded, he said.
He recalls that campsites must respect the law on tourist accommodation, which is not the case for a retail business.
“What I find unfair is someone who spends his day there, who takes place his carpet, who sits on the asphalt and who takes his cup of coffee,” says Marc Brochu, owner of two campsites in Farnham and Rivière-du-Loup.
This is without counting that the road stops and the parking lots of shopping centers are often chosen for night stops.
Study
The question will be addressed this fall with the realization of a study which will lead to the publication of the portrait of the practice of camping in Quebec, an exercise that is repeated every four years.
“You have to see what is the offer, then what people want,” says Julie Trahan, Côte Director of Camping Québec.
