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Explore Québec on the Road Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

Explore Québec on the Road Program Funds up to 25% of admissible expenses, capped at $25000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Q: Is the Explore Québec on the Road Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Explore Québec on the Road Program is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Explore Québec on the Road Program?

Explore Québec on the Road Program is funded by Gouvernement du Québec

Q: Who is eligible for the Explore Québec on the Road Program program?

To be eligible for the Explore Québec on the Road Program program, you must: • Must be a travel agency, tour operator, or receptive agency holding a standard/general permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC). • Agencies with a restricted OPC permit are not eligible. • Eligible agencies may partner to submit a joint application.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Explore Québec on the Road Program?

You can contact Gouvernement du Québec by email at explorequebec@arfquebec.com or by phone at 4185220976.

Q: Where is the Explore Québec on the Road Program available?

The Explore Québec on the Road Program program is available the province of Quebec.

Last Update: January 19, 2026

QC, Canada

Supports travel agencies offering discounted Quebec road trip packages

Grant and Funding

Gouvernement du Québec

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

No objectives are currently available

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 25,000 $
Up to 25% of project cost

Timeline

Unspecified

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

Transportation and warehousing
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Accommodation and food services

Location

Quebec

Legal structures

For-profit business

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

Canadians

Overview

Explore Québec on the Road provides a 25% subsidy (up to $25,000 per package) so eligible travel agencies, tour operators and receptive agencies can sell reduced-price Québec travel packages to Québec residents and help extend the tourism season while encouraging responsible and sustainable tourism. Eligible activities include packages (non-air) featuring at least one paid night (up to 31 for the general public), required transport when needed, and two paid flagship attractions or two paid guided activities, offered within the program’s operating periods for the general public or the school market.

Activities funded

Design and marketing of discounted road-based travel packages (no air transport) for Quebec residents to discover one or more Quebec tourism regions.
Operation of discounted travel packages for the general public (independent travellers and/or groups) within Quebec (fall, winter and spring seasons).
Operation of discounted school or student group travel packages within Quebec (September to June).
Development of travel packages that incorporate responsible and sustainable tourism (RST) components (e.g., educational/sensitization activities and/or low-carbon tourism approaches).

Eligibility

The applicant must be a travel agency, tour operator, or receptive agency holding a standard/general permit from Québec’s Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC).
The applicant may partner with other eligible agencies to submit a joint application.
The proposed package must be marketed by the applicant and target the Québec (intra-Québec) market.
The proposed package must promote one or more Québec tourist regions and include at least one paid night, transportation to the destination when required, and either two paid flagship attractions or two paid guided activities.
The proposed package must be delivered within the program’s operating period for the chosen stream (general public: Oct 1–May 31; school: Sep 1–Jun 30) and include tourism responsible and sustainable (TRD) considerations as required by the stream.

Who is eligible?

Travel agencies
Tour operators
Inbound (receptive) travel agencies

Who is not eligible

Travel agencies, tour operators, or receptive agencies that hold a restricted permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC).
Primary-residence accommodation establishments (principal residences) included as lodging suppliers in a package.

Eligible expenses

Price discount granted to Québec residents on the regular selling price of an eligible package (25% discount, before taxes).

Eligible geographic areas

Quebec (tourism packages must promote one or more Quebec tourist regions).

Selection criteria

Quality and completeness of the application: only complete applications are evaluated.
Assessment of the sales potential (sales forecasts) of the proposed package.
Analysis of actual sales compared with the sales forecasts (performance monitoring).
Leverage effect of the financial contribution (spinoffs generated by the assistance granted).
Ratio of the number of tourists benefiting from the program compared with the total number of tourists per region (over the duration of the program).

How to apply

Confirm eligibility

Confirm you are a travel agency, tour operator, or receptive agency holding a standard/general permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur
Ensure the package targets Québec residents and excludes any consumer air transport from the funded portion
If applicable, plan a joint application with other eligible agencies

Design an eligible package

Choose the stream: General public (operated Oct 1 to May 31) or School (operated Sept 1 to June 30)
Build a package with at least one paid night (max 31 nights for general public), transport to destination when needed, and 2 paid flagship attractions or 2 paid guided activities
Integrate responsible and sustainable tourism (TRD) requirements (one of the 4 options for general public; at least one TRD awareness/education activity for school)

Validate supplier compliance

Ensure suppliers are open and can deliver the services included in the package
If offering nature/adventure activities, ensure suppliers hold (or are obtaining) the Qualité-Sécurité attestation from Aventure Écotourisme Québec
For tourist accommodation, ensure a valid registration number and compliance with promotion rules; principal residence establishments are not eligible

Prepare required information

Estimate the package sales potential to support the requested budget envelope
Prepare to provide supporting documents demonstrating TRD commitments, upon request
If the package includes an exceptional portion outside Québec, prepare a detailed day-by-day itinerary and exclude out-of-Québec expenses from the discount calculation base

Submit the application

Complete the application form on ARF-Québec’s website
Submit the required forms and supporting documents as part of the formal request

Await selection and agreement

ARF-Québec verifies the agency’s eligibility and communicates the approval decision
The selection committee reviews complete applications and determines the reserved financial assistance
If approved, sign the agreement specifying the project, the aid, and the supporting documents to provide

Additional information

The program is managed by Agences réceptives et forfaitistes du Québec (ARF-Québec) on behalf of Québec’s Ministère du Tourisme.
The 2025–2026 budget envelope is exhausted and no new applications are being accepted; the edition continues until agencies use up their allocated envelopes, and the program is expected to end in June 2026.
Explore Québec’s “air” component ended on December 31, 2023.
The “Explore Québec – Circuits branchés” extension is no longer in effect since March 31, 2023.

Contacts

explorequebec@arfquebec.com

4185220976

QC, Canada

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Explore Québec on the Road Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Explore Québec on the Road Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the Explore Québec on the Road Program?

How much funding can be received?

What expenses are eligible under Explore Québec on the Road Program?

Design and marketing of discounted road-based travel packages (no air transport) for Quebec residents to discover one or more Quebec tourism regions. Operation of discounted travel packages for the general public (independent travellers and/or groups) within Quebec (fall, winter and spring seasons). Operation of discounted school or student group travel packages within Quebec (September to June). Development of travel packages that incorporate responsible and sustainable tourism (RST) components (e.g., educational/sensitization activities and/or low-carbon tourism approaches).