Visitors to the Magdalen Islands could soon pay a $30 tourist fee
Visitors to Quebec’s Magdalen Islands could soon have to pay a $30 tourist fee between May 1 and Oct. 14.
The fee would apply to visitors 13 years and older to a maximum of $100 per family. Once paid, tourists would receive a QR code to be scanned before departure or face a penalty of up to $1,000.
The Magdalen Islands expects this could bring in a $1 million this year alone. The money would be placed into a trust to preserve the islands.
"We put the accent into the preservation of our wonderful territory because that's one of the main attractions to the Magdalen Islands," said Mayor Antonin Valiquette.
In recent years, the region has seen a boom in tourism, mainly thanks to provincial travel restrictions during the pandemic. It reached record numbers in 2022 with 73,300 visitors. According to Statistics Canada the year-round population of the islands is 12,190.
While the idea has been debated for years, the Chamber of Commerce for the Magdalen Islands said it's bad timing to implement now as inflation rates remain high and with more travel options, it expects a dip in tourism level.
"It’s not complicated," said Alexandre Lavoie, general manager of the chamber of commerce. "The Islands are about fishing and tourism. If one of those areas struggles it affects everyone."
The final vote on the fee, which is expected to be a formality, is on April 9.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for life of prime minister who was shot
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.