New Direct Flight Connecting Montréal and Tokyo: Montréal taps into a promising tourist market

MONTRÉAL, June 1, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Tourisme Montréal is very pleased to mark the inaugural Air Canada flight between Tokyo and Montréal. The new direct flight is great news for Montréal's tourism industry as it promises to generate significant benefits over time. Tourisme Montréal anticipates that the number of Japanese tourists coming to the city will grow by 48% in 2018. This boost will outpace the projected 6.1% growth in the overseas market.¹ The number of Japanese tourists coming to Montréal is expected to go up another 17% in 2019.

"Tourisme Montréal enthusiastically applauds all efforts to make Montréal more accessible and improve its standing as a leading international destination. Adding a direct flight between Tokyo and Montréal is an important milestone in our strategy to promote Montréal and Québec to tourists from around the world. Air Canada can count on our support to attract visitors and ensure the economic viability of this new direct air connection," said Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal.

Tourisme Montréal will be joining Mayor Valérie Plante on an economic mission to Japan. Organized by the City of Montréal and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal, this mission is essential for fostering economic and tourism ties with Japan. Tourisme Montréal's President and Chief Executive Officer will meet with his counterparts to discuss various topics, including urban tourism trends, business travel and cultural tourism. Tourisme Montréal and Go Tokyo will discuss a possible collaboration to promote tourism in the cities they represent.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is a private, non-profit organization that works to position Montréal as an international-calibre leisure and business travel destination. The organization leads innovative tourist welcome strategies with a twofold objective: ensuring that visitors enjoy a quality experience and maximizing the economic benefits of tourism. Uniting more than 800 tourism professionals, Tourisme Montréal plays a leading role in the management and development of Montréal's tourism business, and makes recommendations on issues surrounding the city's economic, urban and cultural development. For more information, go to www.mtl.org  

¹Projections from Tourisme Montréal in collaboration with the Conference Board of Canada.

A factsheet on the Japanese market is available upon request.

SOURCE Tourisme Montréal