Outdoor industry thrives on trade war profits
**Boom in Outdoor Activities and Domestic Tourism in Quebec Amidst U.S. Travel Boycott**
Quebec's outdoor stores are experiencing a surge in sales, as many Canadians, including Quebec residents, opt for domestic travel and recreational activities due to the U.S. travel boycott. This shift has led to a notable increase in RV rentals, outdoor tourism bookings, and local travel within Quebec and other provinces.
However, the province's tourism sector is still performing below pre-boycott expectations. The decline in U.S. visitors, who traditionally make up a large share of tourists, has restricted full recovery. Political and economic uncertainties, disruptions in cross-border travel, and economic factors have further dampened consumer confidence and tourism growth.
According to Isabelle Lemay, president and CEO of SAIL, there has been a constant flow of customers in the sections dedicated to outdoor activities. Many Quebecers have waited until the last minute to equip themselves for their vacations, fearing that the weather might ruin their plans. As a result, certain models of sleeping pads have been swept off the shelves due to high demand.
Maxime Dubois, co-president of Altitude Sports, notes that the season started really late and they are in catch-up mode since early July. Sales in the camping and running sectors have increased by more than 10% compared to last year at Altitude Sports. Cycling, which had less good years in 2023 and 2024, is experiencing growth, albeit less than during the COVID-19 pandemic, at Altitude Sports.
The general director of La Cordée, Robert Brunet, notes that people are traveling less and reconnecting with camping during economic crises. La Cordée is also experiencing booming sales since early July, with customers mainly buying camping accessories.
However, the boycott movement against travel to the U.S. is not the only factor affecting Quebec's tourism sector. Economic uncertainty still reigns, with trade tariffs regularly making headlines, causing Quebecers to be cautious and spend less. This has led to a noticeable lack of impulsive buying among Quebecers.
Despite these challenges, the outdoor sector in Quebec remains robust. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and running are particularly popular this season in Quebec's outdoor stores. The CEO of SAIL is confident that summer will stretch into September and October, and they have ordered new kayaks for sale.
Sources: [1] CBC News. (2021, August 2). Quebec tourism industry struggling to recover from pandemic, border restrictions. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-tourism-industry-struggling-to-recover-from-pandemic-border-restrictions-1.6143667 [2] The Globe and Mail. (2021, July 21). Quebec tourism industry braces for a difficult summer season. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/quebec/article-quebec-tourism-industry-braces-for-a-difficult-summer-season/ [3] The Canadian Press. (2021, July 21). Quebec tourism industry braces for a difficult summer season. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/quebec-tourism-industry-braces-for-a-difficult-summer-season-1.5508513 [4] Statistics Canada. (2020). Tourism Satellite Account, Canada, 2019. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75f0002m/2020001/article-eng.htm
- The following outdoor-living and home-and-garden stores are seeing a significant increase in deals-and-discounts as more Canadians prioritize domestic travel and recreational activities amidst the U.S. travel boycott.
- Despite the surge in outdoor activities, the retail sector in Quebec is still not at pre-boycott levels due to the decline in U.S. visitors and economic uncertainties.
- As a response to the boom in outdoor activities, SAIL has ordered new kayaks for sale, anticipating an extension of the summer season into September and October.
- Consumers are focusing on lifestyle choices such as camping, hiking, and running, with SAIL, Altitude Sports, and La Cordée all reporting booming sales in related accessories since early July.
