Canadian Grand Prix: Yes to the Economy, but the Environment?

Grand Prix is ​​famous for making money in the capital, a necessary post-pandemic phenomenon where everyone is able to find their account. However, the environmental impact of burning too much gasoline should not be overlooked.

Grand Prix welcomes people from all over the world, which is a very positive aspect of tourism. An expensive weekend, where prices are very high and restaurants and hotels are happy.

For most downtown Montreal merchants, the Grand Prix will be more important than Christmas, according to Tourism Montreal spokesperson Aurelie de Blois.

More than 300,000 people have entered the Montreal Grand Prix site so far.

Two-thirds of the spectators come from outside Montreal and half from outside Quebec. You will understand that it has a huge impact on the county’s economy, we are talking about 80 million economic benefits! Ms. de Blois explains.

“After the years of the pandemic, we need to revive the economy,” explains President and CEO of the Association of Greater Montreal Hotels, Jean-Sebastien Boudrault.

However, hotels this year are much less crowded than last year. “Last year we were three years away from the last Grand Prix, there was madness, madness. People got stuck,” he adds.

The occupancy rate this year is between 93 and 95%. For tourism, it’s a winner, as Montreal is much loved by visitors. “People come to Montreal because we have a beautiful city. They like it, our city is interesting, ”the president specifies.

Tourists are willing to spend fortunes to perpetuate unforgettable weekend memories. Hats, T-shirts, tickets: even if it costs them $5 or $6,000, they’ll do anything to make full use of it.

And the environment in all of this?

Motor racing fans travel for miles to experience intense emotions as they watch the cars roll on the racetrack. While in 2023 the environment is more than worrying, is it legitimate to take advantage of this event?

For Manon Masset, the economy and the environment must be integrated in the organization of this event. It is time to develop fusion. The time to oppose the economy and the environment must be over. We are still being taken away from the argument of economics, when in reality we should be able to develop both hand in hand,” she said.

For the participants of the Grand Prix, the answer to this question is unanimous. It is not just one such event every year that can damage the environment, there are many others.

“It’s not the Grand Prix event that causes all the pollution in the world,” said one participant.

In 2030, Formula 1 is committed to completely eliminating its carbon footprint. The Grand Prix du Canada also unveiled its sustainable development plan, an action that Montreal’s tourism authority welcomes.