WEB:gorgedecoaticook.qc.ca
Phone: 819-849-2331 / 1 888 524-6743
Canada

Description

The Parc de la Gorge is a para-municipal non-profit organization in the sense that it manages infrastructure and land (more than seven hundred acres) owned by the town of Coaticook. The Parc offers an array of outdoor activities year round—in summer; fall, with its spectacular colours; winter; and spring. Last year, the Parc de la Gorge welcomed more than 300 000 visitors from around the world.  It’s 33 time more than a people live in Coaticook. The Parc’s activities include camping, mountain biking, a petting zoo, in addition to many winter activities. And finally, a favourite activity for many of our visitors is hiking (16 miles of trails). The Parc features the longest suspended footbridge in North America and Foresta Lumina, an illuminated trail that only comes to life at nightfall, which accounts for 1.25 miles of trails. Our mission is to develop, maintain, improve, and make accessible Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook’s infrastructures within its natural environment and attractive tourism perspective.

The magic of Foresta Lumina takes flight to downtown Coaticook. The still popular appeal since its creation in 2014 is renewed for its 2018 season. In addition to novelty on the course, Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook’s management team created a partnership with the City of Coaticook to increase the magical characteristic of Foresta Lumina. The extension towards downtown was a bonus to the Foresta Lumina experience and is also a great occasion to take advantage of Foresta Lumina's free shuttles. In total, more than 4 enchanted shuttles had make the trip between the city and Foresta Lumina every 30 minutes. Regarding the novelties on the course Parc de la Gorge Coaticook, these additions were the results of laborious assessments surrounding our guest’s opinions and comments. We considered the most appreciated aspects of the path and improved or deleted following visitor’s recommendations. All these embellishments have been made possible thanks to different partners. In 2018, more than $ 1.3 million was invested: $ 442,200 from the Ministry of Tourism, $ 125,000 from the City of Coaticook, $ 59,000 from the Coaticook RCM and to invest $ 705,000 in the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook.

Each year, Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook gets involved in its local community by sponsoring numerous different activities and/or organizations from the province of Quebec. Each year, more than $10 000 are given to local stores and others organizations. For exemple, Canandian Liver Foundation, Children’s Wish, Ronald McDonald House. In addition to this we organized each year a special night to Foresta Lumina for residents of Coaticook who represented an investment of $ 18 000.

In 2014, magic was created and Foresta Lumina was born, a multimedia night journey of more than 1.5 miles initially including 8 zones (we now have 11) playing on the scenography, the lights and our Quebec legendary history. Foresta Lumina uses sensory language rather than speech, making it a universal product for audiences of all ages. In addition, the attraction being offered in the form of a continuous animated route, each visitor is free to enjoy the experience at his own pace without a guide. The experience is at once immersive, interactive and contemplative. Since its first year, Foresta Lumina has been an outstanding success for the entire organization and surroundings. We have seen incredible increases at many levels: Increase in the amount of night stays within the campground by 143%. Increase in the number of hiking visitors of 535%. Increase in mountain bike traffic by 50%.Increase in restaurant sales by 178%. Increase in sales at our souvenir stand by 800% In fact, press reviews have travelled around the world, namely: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, Turkey, Poland, United States, Russia and, of course, Canada. It has basically created a general benefit for the entire region. Following a survey of our partners, there was an increase of:125% in regards to tourist circulation. 200% increase for local restaurants.100% increase in lodging and accommodation occupancy. Results that have dramatically surpass the projected objectives. FORESTA LUMINA has also inhaled new life within downtown Coaticook, new stores have opened, new terraces have been created and the city has since acquired the status of a touristic city allowing businesses to extend their opening hours. FORESTA LUMINA is an evolutionary project. Its architectural structure offers great flexibility capacities allowing the product to be renewed each year with new visual content, new effects and characters, as well as the additional technologies. The goal is to ensure market growth, while maintaining the existing clientele. Again this year thanks to the implementation of a customer relationship management system (CRM). All our visitors receive an e-mail within 24 hours of their visit in order to share with us their comments. More than 65% take the time to respond and submit improvements. It is therefore with their suggestions and brilliant ideas that we have invested more than 6 million over the last 4 years keeping Foresta Lumina an attractive tourist product...Since then, more than 8 additional "Lumina" night courses have been created around the world in various natural sites (Canada, Japan, China, United States).