Changements climatiques et mise en tourisme du fleuve St-Laurent au Québec

Abstract

Les littoraux du fleuve St-Laurent sont au cœur de l’attractivité touristique du Québec, mais sont aussi des espaces qui seront fortement touchés par les changements climatiques. C’est donc à partir d’une approche basée sur une conceptualisation tripartite de l’espace que l’article analyse les représentations de l’espace à partir de deux discours étatiques que sont la stratégie de mise en valeur du Saint-Laurent touristique et la stratégie d’adaptation aux changements climatiques. Cette approche s’intéresse à la manière par laquelle les acteurs « problématisent » l’adaptation aux changements climatiques dans les deux stratégies à l’étude, de façon à mieux comprendre les convergences et les divergences d’intérêts, les alliances et les oppositions qui permettent d’éclairer les problèmes de mise en œuvre.

Adaptation processes of peripheral coastal tourism communities in Québec, Canada

“…As we highlighted in a previous paper (Lapointe et al [41]), this discourse presents St. Lawrence as a focal area through multiple flows -economic and social -but is also a vulnerable area to climate change. The adaptation is presented as being dependent on the values that will be granted to these areas, and, implicitly suggesting regulation by the market adaptation to climate change.…”

“…Indeed, St. Lawrence is considered to be one of the major attractions of Québec. As mentioned by Lapointe et al [41], the tourism development strategy built an image of St. Lawrence as a place of dreams, desires and structured recreation poles connected by circuits. The poles are designed to capture the international passenger flows, mainly cruise lines, and circuits are designed to disseminate these visitors in the coastal areas.…”

Coastal tourism space in the context of climate change: discourses and strategies

“…Adaptation presents not only challenges but also a priority for this industry, which is of vital importance to many local communities. The ability of local communities to adapt and change is influenced by spatial dynamics such as changes in the flows of visitors, transforming physical and geographical resources for tourism, relocation of infrastructure (Scott et al, 2009) and the adoption of development and public policy strategies (Lapointe et al, 2015). These spatial dynamics are at work on different scales (e.g.…”

Space in transformation: Public versus private climate change adaptation in peripheral coastal tourism areas—Case studies from Quebec, Canada

“…Finally, this work has emerged from our previous research projects. It is part of a collective approach, led by (Lapointe, Lebon & Guillemard, 2016;Lapointe & Sarrasin, 2017;Lapointe, Sarrasin & Guillemard, 2015;Lebon & Lapointe, 2018), who, since 2013, has been interested in the connections between tourism and climate change in the St. Lawrence River region and the unique and interdependent relationship the Quebecers have with the St. Lawrence River. Our background in regional studies has led us to focus on the realities of spaces in the peripheries.…”

“…It is particularly relevant to look at how the tourism spaces in question adapt to climate change, because the current development strategy of the St. Lawrence River does not take into account the impact climate change has, could, or will have on its coastal areas, local communities, and tourism infrastructure (Lapointe et al, 2015).…”