TOURIST TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21245, 17 August 1934, Page 14

TOURIST TRAFFIC

* I Control by a Board ! Advocated RECOMMENDATIONS OF CONFERENCE [THE PEE3S Special Service ] WELLINGTON. August 16. "I hope that the passing of some popular and attractively-worded resolutions will not be the only outcome of this conference, but that some definite and practical results will be achieved from the discussion that will take place," said the Minister in charge of Tourist and Publicity (the Hon. A. Hamilton), when opening to-day a conference of those associated with the tourist industry. More than 60 delegates were present from all parts of the Dominion, and the proceedings lasted the whole day. The organisations represented at the conference included the Tourist and Publicity Department, the Overseas Shipowners' Committee, shipping organisations, the New Zealand Tourist League, Progress Leagues, the Rotorua Borough Council, alpine lesorts and guides Federated Mountain Clubs, Thomas Cook a id Son, organised motor services, th«? .Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Licensed Victuallers Association, deep sea anglers clubs, the Private Hotels' Association, the Te Aroha Borough Council, the Mount Cook Tourist Company, Wanganul River Services, and the New Zealand Travel Association. In welcoming the delegates. Mr Hamilton expressed his appreciation ox the number who had accepted the invitation to come to Wellington at their own expense to discuss ways and means of increasing and further developing tourist traffic. Ho referred to the economic difficulties .arising out of quota restrictions and exports generally The conference would realise ns he did the value to the community generally of the tourist trade. Of course, there was a national as well as a local aspect, but he hoped the delegates would not be parochial in their views, but would express their opinions from a national point of view. Mr Hamilton suggested that the main objectives to be borne in mind were the bringing of more tourists to New Zealand, meeting their require-

- ments during their .stay so thnt they : would be well satisfied when leaving ■ and become good publicity agents, nnd ■ moreover encouraging New Zenlandcrs ■ to travel and sec more of their own ; country. The Minister trusted thnt the conference would not develop into a criticism of any past efforts to popularise and inn-case the tourist traffic, but that one and all would concentrate their thoughts on the best orrange- ! ments fliat it was considered desirable ■ to be made toward obtaining a further : influx- of overseas tourists. The utmost. harmony prevailed I throughout the proceedings, and the • discussion touched on almost all phases I of the tourist industry generally. I | The following resolution was; adopted, on the motion of Mr C. A. L. j , Trendwell. seconded by Mr H. H. Stcr- i i ling:- j 'j "Tha ! t!ic Government and private j ' i interests involved in tourist and Dub- j •! lieit.v mailers in New Zealand be' :! co-ordinated, first by placing the | , | Tourist D r partnient under the con- j trol of a board separated from the Public Service, and then by developi ing all interests affected, for the purpose of bringing Jourists to and caring for them in Nov.* Zealand." Su!)s(.rju. ntly. it was decided, on the motion of Mr P. Coyle, seconded by Mr G. J. Farrincton. to set tip a committee. comprising the Hon. J. VcLeod, Mr C. A. L. Treadwell. Mr If. H. Sterling, and Mr H. J. Knight, to present tiie resolution to the Government. A hearty vot.> of thank.-; was extended to Mr Sterling for the work carried out bv him, and on the motion of Mr J. A. C. Allum, a resolution was passed thanking the Minister for callin? the conference and also for presiding, and expressing the hope that, his health would soon be completely roj-torer). J DISTINCT IMPROVEMENT | NOTED i I . ! large number of visitors FROM AUSTRALIA fFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.} WELLINGTON. August 10. The general tourist trafile to New Zealand was. distinctly better in 193334 than in the immediately preceding years, according to the annual report j of the department, presented to Par-1 1 iiament to-day. The report states that j the number of visitors still reflects the ■: adverse economic conditions abroad, j but the improvement last year and the | prospects lor the coming summer are j distinctly encouraging. Traffic within ! the Dominion last summer was also • much better than in the previous year, j and it has also been noticeable that' the business has been reasonably well { maintained in recent months. i Hotel and transport interests all report distinctly better traffic, both local and from overseas, not only in the "season" but throughout the autumn months. The Dominion's tourist traffic from overseas continues to be derived mainly from Australia, more than 50 per cent, of the visitors coming from the Commonwealth, about 20 per cent, from the United Kingdom, and roughly 15 per cent, from other British countries. A comparatively small proportion of the traffic is represented bv visitors from foreign countries, and the outstanding importance of Australia as our best tourist market no doubt reflects the influence of trade relationships and the importance of geographical location, says the report. The very high value of the tourist traffic of countries in the northern hemisphere is undoubtedly due to the advantages which those countries enjoy in having in close proximity many mil- 1 lions of people who at no great expenditure of time or money are able . to enjoy the attractions, both natural . and historical, of their neighbours. ; Distance is for New Zealand a definite ' bar to the development of the class of traffic which provides each season thousands of holiday makers who can for a comparatively modest sum visit the outstanding attractions of Europe and North America. Despite the strong competition of Eastern countries, and the attractions ! of Europe and of cruises out of Australian ports by large luxury liners, the Dominion last year again* secured ( :from Australia increased business, much of which was booked through < the department's organisation. Cruis- , ing remains a feature of international importance in the tourist industry, and j New Zealand is increasingly benefiting , by the calls of cruise ships. The j Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi- j gation Company and the Orient Line j will be sending large cruise ships to ? the Dominion between November and 2 March. It is expected that a total of c five or six such visits will be made, of which four are already definitely ar- < ranged. The department is closely co- } operating with the companies in these } cruises, and the whole of the shoreaart rnngements will be handled by the ]

department's organisation, working in close contact with the railways. "Unfortunately, only a brief period is spent in the Dominion by passengers on these various cruise vessels," says the report, "and it is particularly to be regretted that no opportunity is given for viewing the outstanding attractions of the South Island. The department endeavours by means of publicity and through the satisfaction of the "cruise passengers to induce a desire for return visits of longer duration."