Tourisme Intelligence
THE Quebec source for information on global trends in tourism

Numerous studies have examined environmental practices in hotels (Winter & Azimi, 2006; Johnson, 2008; Hanna, 2008; Gunter, 2008; Bohdanowicz, 2005), but very few have focussed specifically on the environmental practices of the B&B industry.  Bed and breakfasts (B&B) are defined as lodging establishments set in a residence that offer overnight accommodations and breakfast (Rushmore & [...]

The St. Lawrence River is still a relatively new destination on the North American cruise market. Recent federal and provincial spending on ports of call has helped upgrade reception facilities and improve the quality of the visitor experience. In this highly competitive industry, where a single cruise ship call can generate thousands of dollars as [...]

Carbon offsetting is a controversial practice to reduce one’s carbon footprint; however, this practice has spread worldwide in the last decade. Offsetting attempts to counteract the impact of carbon emissions by drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and/or reducing emissions produced elsewhere. There are many methods of offsetting available, from planting trees (biological sequestration) to [...]

As far as environmental responsibility is concerned, golf is neither ahead, nor behind other sectors, and it may take some time before it is considered as ‘responsible recreation’. Golf courses have a long history of being environmentally unfriendly, due to their high water and chemical use, impact on local topography, hydrology and wildlife.1 Nonetheless, golf [...]

To stimulate demand for sustainable tourism, there may be a greater need for financial incentives for consumers and businesses. Small businesses might especially benefit from financial incentives for implementing operational changes that lead to net resource conservation from measures such as rebates and tax breaks. If the savings were passed onto consumers, it might lead [...]

In 2006, 26,400 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere, of which tourism contributed 5% (UNWTO, 2008). Of that 5%, air travel was responsible for 40% and land travel for 36%. The relationship between climate change and tourism is interwoven and interdependent.  Climate change has major implications for the future of tourism [...]

Although there has been a continuous increase in global tourism despite the economic recession (902 million international travelers in 2008 – a 4% increase over 2007), negative effects are also being identified by businesses and governments alike. One of the ways to counter detrimental effects is for tourists and locals to engage in sustainable tourism [...]

Hit hard by the economic crisis, the year 2009 was, for many sectors of the tourism industry, a catastrophic year. For the cruise industry, however, it was a year in which the number of passengers actually grew, fuelled by major cuts to cruise fares. As for 2010, the outlook is very positive: new ships, new [...]

The Québec Tourism Intelligence Network is pleased to present some highly relevant thoughts about online marketing of hotels, written by special collaborator M. Starkov, consultant in Hospitality eBusiness Strategies. Throughout our nearly 15 years of hotel Internet marketing experience, we have been consistently concerned about the increasing level of disparity between savvy Internet/Mobile marketers in [...]

Like many places, Québec has also created a policy framework to increase energy production from renewable sources such as wind.(1) Wind farm construction presents numerous challenges, but from a tourism viewpoint, it has a direct visual impact on scenic landscapes and an indirect effect on industry due to potential economic losses. Opponents to wind farms [...]