François Bédard, Director of the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED), highlights the central role of collaboration in the sustainable development of tourism destinations.

Through four examples from Quebec, he illustrates how cooperation among local stakeholders fosters innovation and territorial transformation.

1. Tourism Région de Mégantic: The MRC du Granit has built a collaborative governance model involving twenty municipalities, based on trust, complementarity, and mobilizing leadership, to strengthen the sense of belonging and create a coherent destination.

2. Tourism Baie-James: The region has been reimagined as a network of seven micro-destinations that emphasize local distinctiveness, leading to the creation of the VäHumania project, where residents become ambassadors of tourism hospitality.

3. COTA and Tourism Eeyou Istchee: Working with the nine Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee, collaboration has made it possible to integrate tourism development and land-use plans, ensuring a strong and lasting community foundation.

4. Tourism Abitibi-Témiscamingue: A pioneer in social innovation, the region has implemented a regenerative model focused on six complementary destinations and a Regenerative Innovation Hub in partnership with MT Lab, combining tourism, biodiversity, and collective well-being.

In conclusion, François Bédard reminds us that collaboration is a living and continuous process, essential for the development of sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative tourism that serves both territories and their residents.