ATTRACTING TOURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 18

ATTRACTING TOURISTS.

"EDUCATE AGENCY STAFFS.' • IMPROVING SHIP SERVICES NEED OF GOOD ADVERTISING. The complete education of tourist agency staffs should be the foundation of any campaign opened with the purpose of attracting travellers, according to Mr. R. J. Amvyl, F.R.G.S., general manager for Australia-and New Zealand for Thomas Cook and - Son, who is visiting Auckland on a tour of the •' world, America, Great ■ Bvitain and the Continent will be visited by Mr. Anwyl on admission by which he hopes to advertise the resorts • of the Commonwealth and the Dominion;

"Before long," said Mr. AnwyJ this morning, "one of the principal needs for attracting wealthy Americans—improved steamer services—will be available. It is recognised that' the American does like a luxurious steamer, and a big one. Several shipping companies have new boats scheduled to run between here and the United States, and the establishment of such services will-undoubtedly overcome many of tho difficulties which at present hinder us. . "It is a big problem to advertise New Zealand in the United States —so big that it is too much to expect a Government to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on it," declared Mr. Anwyl. "New Zealand is a long way from America, and, America is an enormous country, presenting a tremendous field for the advertising agent to cover. The area to be covered and the population to be touched must be realised. We cannot afford to spend those sums which Americans Avould think little of paying for the same purpose." Explaining the method by which he hoped to accomplish his task, Mr 4 Anwyl said that it' was - necessary to consider first the recognised centres and in them the acknowledged concentration points of prospective tourists. These were the tourist agencies,, of which there were many in all cities of any size. "Supply these, offices with the right kind of literature and illustration's and educate the staffs ,to that degree where they can give confidence to the prospective tourist (to whom, it must be remembered, New Zealand and Australia are new countries) and you have a reasonable Ichance of. success in any campaign," he said.' * ■' ' v • ,• .While agents have visited Australia and New Zealand from other ■- parts of the world, none has previously been sent from here through America and Europe. Mr. Anwyl's campaign is the first of its kind to" ; 6nginate "in the, first" designed to cover in its itinerary ail the "concentration points" which' are so vital tourist traffic. i . After touring the United States, for which he sails by the Niagara next week, Mr.. Anwyl will meet the principals 1 of his firm in London. He will return through Europe and the East, and, on his arrival back in Australia, will have completed his fifth tour of the world.