Open
Explore Québec on the Road Program
Supports travel agencies offering discounted Quebec road trip packages
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 25,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada
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.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
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
Next steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
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
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).
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Any air transportation used by the customer (air travel is excluded from funding).
- Packages sold to non-Québec residents (the discount funding applies only to Québec residents).
- Travel agencies holding a restricted permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur (not eligible participants).
- In packages that include an out-of-Québec portion: any attractions located outside Québec (cannot be included).
- Inadmissible “paid activities” (cannot count toward the required activities): meals, tastings without interpretation, one-off shows/events, sporting events (e.g., a hockey game), massages/wellness treatments.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec (tourism packages must promote one or more Quebec tourist regions).
Processing and Agreement
- ARF-Québec verifies the agency’s eligibility and confirms whether the application is approved.
- Complete applications are analyzed by ARF-Québec and submitted to a selection committee (including a representative from the Québec Ministry of Tourism and the program manager).
- The selection committee selects the packages and determines the financial support reserved for the agency based on predetermined criteria.
- If approved, the support is formalized through an agreement between ARF-Québec and the agency (project description, support amount, payment terms, and required supporting documents).
- Funds are paid monthly upon submission of an up-to-date sales report and client invoices (or a signed contract with the school for school groups).
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
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?
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.
How much funding can be received?
Explore Québec on the Road Program Funds up to 25% of admissible expenses, capped at $25,000 per project.
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.
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).
Who can I contact for more information about the Explore Québec on the Road Program?
You can contact Gouvernment of Québec by email at explorequebec@arfquebec.com or by phone at 4185220976.
Where is the Explore Québec on the Road Program available?
The Explore Québec on the Road Program program is available the province of Quebec.
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
More programs like this
Program Supporting the Development of Tourist Attractions — Stream 2$100,000-$5,000,00050%- Program Supporting the Development of Tourist Attractions — Stream 1$150,000-$5,000,00050%
Innovative Projects ProgramMax $12,000,00075%
TechnoclimatMax $3,000,00050%
