“TRADE FOLLOWS TOURISTS”

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21975, 26 December 1936, Page 8

“TRADE FOLLOWS TOURISTS”

♦ DUKE OF KENT’S SLOGAN KEEPING BRITAIN ON THE MAP (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON. December 2. The Duke of Kent has suggested a new slogan—Trade Follows Tourists. Speaking at the dinner of the Travel and industiral Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland, he said: “I cannot compete with the wonderful rhyming slogans of the King. However, I would like to give Britain this slogan—Trade Follows Tourists. If that is a slogan, I am afraid that it assumes the homely form of prose, but at least it enables you lo emphasise an important truth. "Tho British Isles do not occupy a very largo’ p'ucc on the map, but they occupy a very important one. It is, however, very necessary to keep our country before the eyes of the rest of the world; it is even more necessary that the world should have a true appreciation of us as a country. "Tho figures for the numbers of visitors to this country have increased year by year, and it is already certain that 1936 will be a record year. I understand that economists term the expenditure of visitors from abroad an 'invisible export.' This year the value of this ‘invisible export’ will probably exceed £30,000,000 —a very important contribution lo our oversea trade. "I should like lo quote Professor Ogilvic in saying that, ‘The world that (ravels is likely lo be a world at peace.’ This association believes that over and above the cash basis of tourists there is the spiritual value of any effort to attract visitors and trade lo this country. A Peace-Loving Country "While iv would be foolish to pretend that tho world at present is a harmonious siale, it is always possible to take a hopeful view. This association is wise in striking a cheerful note in its publicity of things which are fortunately to be found in abundance in the British Isles. “Great Britain is a country where trade and industry prosper. It is a peaceful, peace-loving country, whose people arc good-humoured and sportsmanlike, tolerant, and hospitable.” Turning to tho Earl of Derby, president of the association, his Royal Highness said: “I cannot think of a man who represents more worthily than you do the qualities of this country. 1 think that you epitomise British qualities at the highest—were it not that the dictionary tells me that ‘epitome’ means ‘a representation in a miniature.’” (Laughter.) Lord Derby, replying, said that our forefathers iiad preferred port in a hogshead to port in a bottle, and that he sincerely hoped that the association would prefer a hogshead of himself to the mere contents of a bottle. Emphasising the importance of tho work of the Royal Family towards the prosperity of Britain. Lord Derby said: “Royal interest has done much for us, and has helped us greatly to extend. I should like to be able to put it into pounds, shillings, and pence what Royal interest had done for us and for ail national works generally.” Courtesy to Visitors Turning to the Duke of Kent. Lord Derby continued; “I think that your slogan. ‘Trade Follows Tourists’ is tho best thing we have heard for a long time. Also ‘A World that Travels is a World at Peace,’ because if one can meet a man face to face one can argue every international question out.” Captain Euan Wallace, M.P., secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade, said that it was important to give the overseas visitor a good welcome. “Lei us be frank,” ho added. “You have had a much bettor reception abroad than the foreigner has had here. From the Customs official —that much maligned official—onwards we must try to improve in this respect.” Lord Snell, who proposed the health of the chairman, said, in laughing reference to the Duke of Kent’s remarks on Lord Derby’s stature, that in; personally was a “lean fellow” and “Cassius-like.” and that perhaps this accorded well with his type of politics. Ho only hoped that Lord Derby, with his usual indefatigable energy and industry in a good cause, would not succeed in diverting absolutely all the tourist traffic to his own county at the expense of the rest of Britain.