The ACCORD Recreational Tourism Cluster and Le bon goût frais des Îles de la Madeleine (Taste the Îles de la Madeleine) are proud of the accomplishments of the first edition of a Rendezvous between Îles de la Madeleine producers and restaurateurs.

The various workshops set up by Emmanuelle Choquette and Audrey Simard, consultants with the firm Papilles were focussed on the needs of the enterprises targeted by the Cluster. Valuable contributions were made by Christophe Alary, who teaches at École hotelière de la Capitale, and Caroline Baldit, who teaches hotel management techniques at Collège Mérici.

The opening session was open to all the actors of the tourism industry. It was well designed to stimulate reflection and to generate discussion on the culinary identity of the destination, and on the ways to highlight the regional heritage through its food products.

The Rendezvous also provided the agri-food producers and the restaurateurs with an opportunity to increase their capacity for innovation in their respective fields. The program included a trade fair where producers could display their products for the restaurateurs. This provided a great opportunity for the producers to open or firm up sales before the start of the tourist season. This approach fulfilled an obvious need and the organisers hope to do it again in the future.

The event provided an opportunity to showcase a video/audio preview of a project for the development of an online training tool on regional products. The project is currently under production. The objective is to enhance the skills of those who work with the products of Îles de la Madeleine.

In total, the activities included in the program for the event attracted some 40 producers, processors and restaurateurs. The event was made possible by financial support from Ministère des Finances et de l'Économie du Québec, Caisses populaires Desjardins, Centre local de développement des Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Collectif régional en formation agricole Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

The financial support provided by the Ministère des Finances et de l'Économie du Québec was part of the program for the development of strategic sectors and clusters of excellence. The purpose of this program is to mobilise and unify the actions of the enterprises and of their economic partners within the ministry toward common objectives that support the development of strategic sectors and clusters of excellence.

The organising committee wishes to offer special thanks to the sponsors of this Rendezvous between Îles de la Madeleine producers and restaurateurs: Pied-de-Vent Cheese Factory, À l'abri de la Tempête Microbrewery, Fumoir d'Antan Smokehouse and Château Madelinot Hotel.

The economic importance of the archipelago's food industry 

Based on information provided by tourists who visited Îles de la Madeleine.

Arrivals by ferry

For 2012, the total amount spent by these visitors while on the archipelago is estimated at 26 million dollars. Food represents the greatest single portion (35 %) of the visitors' expenses. The percentage for 2012 represented 9.3 million dollars (for the period of May through October). About two thirds of the amount was spent in eating establishments. The other third was spent in food stores.

Arrivals by air

For 2012, the total amount spent by these visitors while on the archipelago is estimated at 9.7 million dollars (for the period of May through October). Overall, food was the most important item, estimated at 35 % and representing 3.4 million dollars in 2012.

Arrivals by Vacancier

For 2012, the total amount spent by these visitors while on the archipelago is estimated at 3.3 million dollars (for the period of May through October). Overall, food was the most important expense item. For the years from 2010 through 2012, it averaged 35 % of the total expenses and represented an amount of 1.3 million dollars. Of that amount, 80 % was spent in eating establishments and 20 % in food stores.


Sources:

Jason Bent
Recreational Tourism Cluster Director
418 986-2245, ext. 228
100,101,118,101,108,111,112,112,101,109,101,110,116,64,116,111,117,114,105,115,109,101,105,108,101,115,100,101,108,97,109,97,100,101,108,101,105,110,101,46,99,111,109|100,101,118,101,108,111,112,112,101,109,101,110,116,64,116,111,117,114,105,115,109,101,105,108,101,115,100,101,108,97,109,97,100,101,108,101,105,110,101,46,99,111,109,60,47,97,62|Courriel via www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com|||
Recreational Tourism Cluster

Sophie Cassis
Director
Le bon goût frais des Îles de la Madeleine (Taste the Îles de la Madeleine)
418 986-6650, ext. 221
100,105,114,101,99,116,105,111,110,64,108,101,98,111,110,103,111,117,116,102,114,97,105,115,100,101,115,105,108,101,115,46,99,111,109|100,105,114,101,99,116,105,111,110,64,108,101,98,111,110,103,111,117,116,102,114,97,105,115,100,101,115,105,108,101,115,46,99,111,109,60,47,97,62|Courriel via www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com|||
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