Tourism answered questions (COVID-19)

Only people living at the same private residence may stay together in a unit at a tourist accommodation establishment.

Restaurants and food courts at tourism sites and tourist accommodation establishments must close. However, food delivery, room service and takeout are allowed. Between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., only delivery is permitted.

The following tourist accommodation establishments and tourism attractions must close:

• Youth hostels
• Museums
• Biodomes
• Planetariums
• Insectariums
• Botanical gardens
• Aquariums
• Zoological gardens
• Arcades
• Amusement centres and parks
• Aquatic parks
• Saunas and spas (massage therapy can still be provided)
• Cinemas and all performing arts venues

Indoor and outdoor public gatherings, including business meetings, festivals and events, are prohibited.

Tourism businesses and attractions not listed here, including thematic sites and maritime excursions, may pursue their activities in a red zone, provided they continue to enforce health measures in effect.

Yes, so long as they occupy separate units at the tourist accommodation establishment (for example, only people from the same household are authorized to stay together in a cottage).

Remember that travel between regions is strongly discouraged.

On June 11, 2020, the Minister of Tourism unveiled the tourism economic recovery plan that represents investments of nearly $753 million to help the tourism sector weather the crisis and prepare for the revival of its operations. The tourism economic recovery plan calls for:

• $446 million to establish an emergency section intended for accommodation establishments and tourist attractions under the concerted temporary action program for business (PACTE). The objective is to offer businesses loans and loan guarantees under advantageous conditions.
• A new stream to provide assistance for businesses in a Maximum Alert region  was added to this program, as well as to the Emergency Assistance for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses  program;
• $200 million in 2020-2021 to support business tourism in the hotel industry, one of the most profitable forms of tourism, under a new section in the Programme d'appui au développement des attraits touristiques (PADAT);
• an additional $25 million ($15 million in 2020-2021 and $10 million in 2021-2022) to enhance the regional tourism partnership agreements (EPRTs);
• $20 million to foster demand for Québec products (Explore Québec sur la route, a tourist attraction passport, and a 50% reduction on the purchase of an annual Sépaq card);
• roughly $13.8 million for hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, a subsidy equivalent to the amount of the tourist accommodation tax paid for the first quarter of 2020.

On November 18, 2020, $38 million was granted to the tourist accommodations sector.

This financial support is granted to businesses on the basis of the difference in the accommodation tax they paid for the second and third quarters of 2020 compared to the amount paid for those same quarters in 2019.

The amount paid will completely cover to the difference up to a maximum of $200,000 per establishment.

The target businesses are outfitting operations, bed-and-breakfasts and hotel establishments with from 4 to 299 rooms that post a decrease of at least 30% in the accommodation tax collected for the second and third quarters of 2020 combined, in comparison to the same period in 2019. 

Moreover, other government measures  are aimed at businesses in all areas of activity, including tourism.

Consult the policy of the collaborative accommodation platform in question. Most have agreed on support measures in relation to the current health crisis or provided for force majeure clauses.

Yes. The children in shared custody can accompany their parents.

Until February 9, only people who live at the same address can take part in permitted tourism activities together.

It is prohibited to have people in your home who live at a different address. This means that it is impossible to rent a room in your home if you are living there.

In these particular cases, penal provisions are provided for under the Public Health Act (CQLR, chapter S-2.2). If public health guidelines are not followed, the police may issue a ticket if the situation is denounced to them.

It is possible to rent equipment, but it is impossible to go into a locker room. Shops must remain closed, and all courses and fitness activities are suspended.

Yes, but some restrictions apply.

Restaurant services will be closed. Chalets may only be used to:

• warm up;
• eat lunch (as per the ski resort's policy);
• access washroom facilities.

Ski lifts should be shared by members of the same household only. Those skiing alone must keep a distance of 2 metres from others. Gondola lifts may be shared by either one household or two individuals (at each end of the lift) at a time.

Children age 3 and over must wear a scarf-style face covering that covers their nose and mouth while using a ski lift and while waiting in line. Users must also keep a distance of 2 metres from others while waiting in line.

The rules are the same as for ski resorts.

Restaurant services are closed. The welcome centres or relays is accessible solely to enable users to:

• get warm;
• eat their lunch (depending on the policy in force on the site);
• use the sanitary facilities.

The number of users must be controlled to ensure that they maintain physical distancing. Moreover, the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting must be increased and adjusted according to the number of users.

For safety reasons, it is important to give skiers and snowmobilers access to the shelters so that they can warm up and seek shelter in the event of injury or equipment failure.

Restaurants are closed but it’s possible to eat lunch indoors, depending on the rules in force on the site.

Yes, it will be possible to rent equipment, which must be disinfected after each use. Access to this service will be limited to ensure physical distancing.

All organizations benefiting from the Festivals and Tourism Events Financial Assistance Program during the summer/fall 2020–2021 period will receive their first instalment (80% of the total grant amount) whether their activities have continued or not.

If applicable, the second instalment of up to 20% of the financial assistance will be disbursed based on the expenses incurred at the time the event is cancelled, upon receipt of supporting documents. Any amount paid in excess of the total costs incurred (including event-related expenses incurred after the cancellation date) will be recovered as required. Note that the total amount of government assistance will also be taken into account. 

As in previous years, the first payment, amounting to 80% of the financial assistance, will be disbursed after the agreement has been signed.

To take advantage of these relief measures, the promoter must have obtained financial assistance through the Festivals and Tourism Events Financial Assistance Program for a festival or an event to be held between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. These ad hoc measures have been adopted due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second instalment of up to 20% of the financial assistance will be disbursed based on the expenses incurred at the time the event is cancelled, upon receipt of supporting documents. Any amount paid in excess of the total costs incurred (including event-related expenses incurred after the cancellation date) will be recovered as required. Note that the total amount of government assistance will also be taken into account.

Financial assistance applications are still being reviewed in spite of the pandemic. You should get a response within the next few weeks.

In light of the exceptional circumstances, the requirements for financial aid applications have been reviewed and communicated to promoters.

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Communications Department of Ministère du Tourisme is not calling for the negotiation of a new visibility agreement. If the festival or event is held, last year’s visibility agreement will apply. If financial assistance is being provided for the first time, the Communications Department will contact the festival or event promoter to reach a verbal visibility agreement.

The financial assistance granted applies only to costs incurred for the 2020 edition, whether the event is cancelled or not. 

If you purchased tickets for an event that was cancelled as a result of a government order related to COVID-19, the merchant is normally required to reimburse you. The merchant may also offer a new date for the event. You are free to accept or decline this offer.

Also, you have the right to cancel ticket purchases made online, by phone or by mail, including through a reseller, if the event is no longer taking place.

For more information, visit the Office de la protection du consommateur  website.