Montreal officials are boasting about this summer's hot season for tourism, with numbers not seen since Expo '67.
Tourism Montreal said the busy summer means tourism spending in the city should hit $3.6B this year, an increase of nearly 10% compared to last year.
@Montreal VP Pierre Bellerose says summer 2017 tourism is one for the books-stats not seen since Expo67. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/XadiEyTEbA
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 12, 2017
Officials credit Montreal's 375th anniversary as well as a good exchange rate and hikes in the numbers of tourists coming from across the border and overseas, including a nearly 120% jump in visitors from Mexico thanks to the lifting of visa restrictions.
That puts Mexico third in terms of countries where Montreal gets most of its tourists; the U.S. is first followed by France with China a close fourth.
Tourism Montreal said they plan on ramping up campaigns aimed at visitors from China with help from their counterparts in the rest of Canada, explaining that more tourists know about Canada, the F1 race "and Justin Trudeau."
@Montreal also counting on boost from luxury cruises landing in #Montreal like this guy which is heading to the US. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/CcjmgbTmrZ
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 12, 2017