The International Tourism and Travel Show Montreal 2015
October 23 - 25, 2016
This is the 27th Edition of the annual International Tourism and Travel Show, held as always at the Montreal's Place Bonaventure. It is a great place to visit when thinking about or planning the next destination.
The themed travel is showing no signs of cooling. More and more people are building a lifestyle around their various interests, hobbies and passions, and this extends to their choice of destinations. They’re making the most of their vacation time combining travel with their favourite pastimes. From gastronomy to thalassotherapy, to rock climbing and more, the options are endless.
Cruises are also very popular, regardless of the size of the ship. According to Manon Martel, Quebec Regional Manager for the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), there’s no indication this trend is about to run out of steam. She states that the river cruises are particularly popular among baby boomers, but many older people also enjoy them. “The destinations tend to be more cultural and attract vacationers who sometimes want a change from all-inclusive resorts. A number of packages exist, and in some cases, excursions are included in the price of the trip. Meanwhile, the large cruise ships are constantly upgrading both their décor and their on-board activities. They have truly become floating cities and offer a wide array of activities for all ages.”
At Transat, staying ahead of market trends is a way of life. “We’ve observed that these days, fewer travellers are interested in long trips,” says Manon Doucet, Sales Manager, Europe and Transat Discoveries. “In the past, it was not unusual to see vacationers visit five countries in 18 or even 21 days. Today’s consumers prefer to escape more often during the year, but for shorter periods of time. However, the biggest change is that now, travellers want to take the time to explore a destination, slow down the pace, and spend consecutive nights in the same location. We’re therefore focusing on specific regions and themes. For example, one of our very popular tours is Beer, Wine and Champagne. Over a 13-day period, vacationers discover beers in Brussels, sip wines in Alsace and enjoy champagne in Reims. It all makes for an exceptional experience.”
Many destinations never go out of fashion, such as France, Vietnam and Italy, but others are also starting to attract travellers. Transat added Prague to their offer in 2014, Budapest in 2015, and in 2016, they will add Zagreb, Croatia. Beginning in March 2016, they will be offering flights to Portugal. South Africa is another sought-after destination. In addition to the tour’s cultural and gastronomic components, safaris are also featured. One day, travellers are at the Cape, where the atmosphere is very European, and just hours later they’re in the heart of the breathtaking African landscape.
You can book your tours or buy suitcases right at the show, and also admire the camels.
Over 400 free conferences are offered to visitors to the show. The conferences highlight a wide range of exciting destinations. Lasting about 30 minutes each, the talks are presented (in French only) about some 10 different locations. There’s no need to reserve.
Click on images to enlarge them.
For more information, visit the International Tourism and Travel Show's website.
http://www.salontourismevoyages.com/en
