New Direct Flight Connecting Montréal and Shanghai: Great News for the Tourism Industry in Montréal and Across Québec

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 16, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Tourisme Montréal is very pleased to announce today's inaugural Air Canada flight connecting Montréal and Shanghai. This new air link is highly strategic for the city. Tourisme Montréal is expecting 110,000 Chinese tourists in 2017, marking a 30% increase over the 84,000 who came to Montréal in 2016.

"China will become the second most important market for Montréal within the next five years. We're thrilled to finally see this new connection happen between Montréal and Shanghai. Tourisme Montréal intends on increasing its share of the massive Chinese market, which will in turn ensure that the new flight route becomes a boon to Montréal's tourism industry," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal.

"The new direct air link is the result of efforts undertaken as part of bilateral cooperation, especially since my mission to China in the fall of 2015, and is a springboard for our future relations. The economic and tourist spinoffs of this new direct air link are solid and demonstrate that Montréal has one again become a hub for Canadian and North American aviation," said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal.

Establishing the new flight route involved years of negotiations between various stakeholders in Montréal, Québec and Canada. Aéroports de Montréal, the City of Montréal, Québec's Ministry of Tourism, Air Canada and Air China worked together with Tourisme Montréal to see this project through to completion. Their combined effort shows just how important it is to have a direct link between the two cities.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position Montréal as a destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market. For more information, visit www.mtl.org.

SOURCE Tourisme Montréal

Andrée-Anne Pelletier, Manager - Corporate Public Relations, Tourisme Montréal, 514-844-3344/514-248-7844, [email protected]