Visitor Profile

Economic benefits of over 58 million dollars!

Photo : Visiteur aux Chutes Shawinigan

According to a study conducted by PRAGMA Tourisme Conseil (tourism consultants) in 2008, Shawinigan received over 600,000 visitors, generating revenues of $58,411,000 in our region.

Some figures at a glance (2008):

  • There were 577,200 overnight stays, an average of 0.96 nights per stay.
  • Visitor spending amounted to $58,411,000, an average of $101.18 in daily expenditures.
  • 93% of visitors were from Quebec. Visitors outside Quebec, however, generated 20% of Shawinigan's overnight stays and tourist revenue.
  • Since 2008, the number of business and sports events, which generated over 50 overnight stays, has more than doubled, and direct spending generated by such visitors rose by 32%.
  • 1,109 direct and indirect jobs were created by the local tourist industry.

Who make up these visitors? :

Following are some statistics on Quebec tourists aged 18 and over who visited Shawinigan in 2008.

Persons/Visits (560 000)
Day trippers 56 %
1 night or + 44 %
Geographical origin
Montreal-Laval-Montérégie 41 %
Mauricie (40+ km away) 20 %
Centre-du-Québec 17 %
Quebec Region
6 %
Eastern Townships 4 % 
Chaudière-Appalaches 3 %
Laurentians 3 %
Lanaudière 3 %
Other regions
4 % 
Main purpose for the trip
Visiting relatives/friends
47 %
Pleasure
(all of Quebec 32%)		 46 %*
Business 1 %
Type of accommodation
Relatives of friends
42 %
Camping 23 %
Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts
11 %
Vacation homes or commercial cottages
4 %
Vacation homes or private cottages
7 %
Redistributed Expenses
Accommodation 25 %
Automobile sector
21 %
Restaurants and bars 19 %
Clothing 25 %
Leasure and entertainment
9 %
Length of visit
No overnight stay
56 %
One night
23 %
Two nights
14 %
Three nights
7 %
Season/Month
Winter 31 %
July-August 27 %
Fall 23 %
Spring 18 %
Age group
18 to 34 years
33 %
35 to 54 years 48 %
55 years and more 20 %
Groups composition
Adults only (18 years and more) 89 % 
Adults with child(s) 11 %