Achi news desk-
Visitors to Quebec’s Magdalen Islands may soon have to pay a $30 tourist fee between May 1 and October 14.
The fee will apply to visitors 13 and older up to a maximum of $100 per family. After paying, tourists will receive a QR code to scan before exiting or face a fine of up to $1,000.
The Magdalen Islands predict that it could bring in $1 million this year alone. The money was faithfully applied to the preservation of the islands.
“We are emphasizing the preservation of our wonderful territory because it is one of the main attractions for the Magdalen Islands,” said Mayor Antonin Valict.
In recent years, the region has experienced a boom in tourism, largely 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 discussed for years, the Magdalen Islands Chamber of Commerce said it was bad timing to implement now, as inflation rates remain high and with more travel options, it expects tourism to decline.
“It’s not complicated,” said Alexander LeBoy, director general of the Chamber of Commerce. “The islands are about fishing and tourism. If one of these areas suffers, it affects all of them.”
The final vote on the fee, which is expected to be official, will be held on April 9.
