Cap-aux-Meules, October 29, 2018 — The Îles de la Madeleine were recognized as a CreativeFriendlyDestination® by the Creative Tourism Network® during the Tourism Day facilitated by Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine on October 24.

This year's edition was held under the following theme: Promoting ourselves differently. Ms. Caroline Couret, Director of the Creative Tourism Network®  presented inspiring examples of creative destinations.

Ms. Caroline Couret (in the middle) gave the membership certificate to Michel Bonato, Director of Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine (on the right), and Jason Bent, Tourism Development Agent (on the left). She also highlighted the assets of the Islands that are useful for the development of this kind of tourism:

• the singular culture of the destination, due to the strong insular identity and DNA; 
• the highly engaged, collaborative and welcoming population;
• a vibrant creative atmosphere that fosters the high presence of artists and artisans, be they native or newcomers.;
• an inclusive and creative model of destination management; 
• the wide range of creative experiences offered, such as: soap-making workshops, ceramic lessons, blown-glass introductory courses, cooking classes, photo workshops, candle-making workshops, etc.

The Îles de la Madeleine became the second Canadian CreativeFriendlyDestination® (following Saint-Jean-Port-Joli). According to Jason Bent, Tourism Development Agent and Tourism Cluster Director: "The development of participatory tourism experiences allows the craftsmen to become more competitive. This new partnership allows us to improve the structure and the promotion of the region's creative tourism offer."

Creative Tourism fits perfectly in Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine's mandate, i.e. fostering the tourism promotion and development, while being in line with the destination and its inhabitants.

About The Creative Tourism Network®

The Creative Tourism Network® was created in Barcelona in 2010. The main goal of the network is to promote the creative tourism while highlighting and creating the synergies between the cities and the regions that could welcome visitors looking for artistic and human experiences, regardless of their demographic importance or national projection.

About Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine

Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine comprises about 360 tourism businesses located in the archipelago, and its primary mandate is to increase the outreach of the Îles de la Madeleine's tourism industry. Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine also plays a leadership role in welcoming tourists and providing them with information, as well as in developing and marketing the region as a tourist destination.

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Source:
Léa Sanche Lefebvre
Marketing and Communication Agent
Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine
promotion@tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com