Friday May 20 2016 – A new maritime passenger terminal officially opened for business at the Port of Trois-Rivières on May 20 with a ceremony attended by Trois-Rivières Mayor Yves Lévesque and Julie Boulet, minister of tourism for the Province of Quebec.
Trois-Rivières has been hosting international cruise ships for five years as a port of call. Last year, the port received 14 vessel calls and 6,130 passengers, up from 3 calls and 1,796 passengers in 2014. Overwhelming majorities of these visitors expressed satisfaction with their experience in the city of Trois-Rivières.
Innovation et Développement Économique Trois-Rivières is at the origin of the effort that led to the building of the new terminal. They were prompted by a desire to boost the approval rating by providing cruise tourists with a new experience.
“The opening of this novel maritime station allows Trois-Rivières to distinguish itself and to position itself advantageously for cruise line companies,” said Mayor Lévesque.
The construction cost of C$630,000 was funded by contributions of C$382,000 from the city of Trois-Rivières, $168,000 from provincial Ministry of Tourism, and C$80,000 from the Trois-Rivières Port Authority.
“It is with pride that I participate in the inauguration of the maritime passenger terminal of Trois-Rivières, a project of which my government has contributed,” said Minister Boulet. “Through the tourism component of our Maritime Strategy, we wish to make the St. Lawrence River a tourism icon of international significance that will make the people of Quebec proud, make a favorable impression on foreign clients, and result in substantial economic benefit. This accomplishment extends a warm welcome to the city and the region to the cruise line clients who stop here.”
Said Port Authority President and Chief Executive Gaétan Boivin: “The money invested in this terminal underscores the port’s desire to facilitate access to the river by citizens and visitors and to improve the city/port interface. During the past few years, the Port of Trois-Rivières has completed the Hector-Louis-Langevin riverside park and constructed a walkway that improved access to parks. All of these improvements make us more welcoming and allow us to a meet the expectations of our customers.”