Summer is a great time to explore Quebec and do outdoor activities. With climate change, however, we need to rethink the way we do things. By planning ahead and accepting that things don’t always go as planned, you can continue to enjoy the summer to the fullest.
After the long winter months, Quebecers especially enjoy the summer as a time to reconnect with nature, enjoy green spaces, and get together outdoors. Camping, hiking, water activities, festivals, and events happen over Quebec as soon as the warm weather arrives.
From a tourism perspective, summer is a peak season. It attracts visitors from near and far and generates significant economic benefits for many regions. Although the summer is an important part of the tourism year, changing weather conditions are disrupting outdoor activities and the planning of summer vacations, posing challenges for the industry.
When climate change disrupts summer activities
Summer activities depend heavily on the weather. They’re already impacted by climate change, which is causing several challenges for the tourism industry, including:
Maintaining the quality of tourism offerings over the long term, despite more variable weather conditions and rising adaptation costs
Ensuring the longevity of infrastructure, equipment, and facilities that are exposed to weather events while limiting pressure on the natural environment
Protecting the health, safety, and well-being of visitors and employees despite the increase in extreme weather events.
These challenges facing the industry affect large gatherings and outdoor activities, sometimes even leading to cancellations and venue closures. In June 2025, thunderstorms in Québec City led to the cancellation of the Fête Nationale celebration on the Plains of Abraham for safety reasons.
The historic 2023 forest fire season also took a heavy toll on the industry. It forced several hunting and fishing outfitters in Quebec to close for safety and accessibility reasons. Some were forced to suspend their activities for several weeks during the peak tourist season, while others had to halt operations for several months in order to rebuild facilities destroyed by fire.
Heavy rain can also lead to the temporary closure of tourist sites and the cancellation of activities such as hiking and camping. This happened at Fjord-du-Saguenay National Park, where heavy rains on July 1, 2023, caused a major landslide that destroyed part of the access road. The incident led to the evacuation of campers and the closure of the park for nearly five weeks in the middle of summer.
The repeated heat waves and low rainfall observed in July and August 2025 led to a significant drop in the water level of the St. Lawrence River, forcing the suspension or restriction of several water-based activities and even causing damage to some boats.
These cases illustrate a trend that is likely to become more pronounced in the coming years. The effects of climate change are transforming the context in which summer activities are organized, requiring constant adaptation.
For visitors and tourism organizations alike, it’s not a matter of giving up on activities, but rather of approaching them differently, by being flexible and prepared.
So how can we adapt so we can continue to make the most of the summer ?
Adapting on an individual level
Adaptation often begins at the individual level. Considering the weather must become an automatic habit. To anticipate future conditions and make informed decisions, it’s best to:
Check the short-term forecast
Be aware of weather alerts
Get information from event organizers or the sites you visit
Flexibility in planning activities is also important. Some best practices include leaving home earlier in the morning or later in the day to avoid periods of extreme heat, shortening the duration of an outing, postponing an activity, or having a Plan B—and even a Plan C—ready. This ability to adapt helps to reduce risks and ensure that the experience remains enjoyable, even when conditions aren’t ideal.
Adapting at the organizational level
Tourism organizations also play a central role in adaptation to the new climate realities. Several adjustments can be made, including altering activity schedules depending on the heat, promoting alternative activities when certain activities become impractical, and providing frequent reminders of safety guidelines.
It’s essential to plan and prepare for the implementation of climate change adaptation measures. In 2024, 23 tourism associations joined forces as part of a group focused on adaptation to incorporate climate issues into their strategies. A total of 115 actions were identified in keeping with the roles and responsibilities of tourism associations in adapting practices to the changing climate.
Summer in Quebec is changing. To continue enjoying it to the fullest, visitors and tourism industry stakeholders will now have to adapt to a new climate reality, in which preparation, vigilance, and the ability to adapt are just as central as the desire to get out and explore.
Explore the challenges and impacts affecting Quebec’s tourism industry and discover ways to take action in this special report dedicated to Quebec’s tourism industry.
