TOURIST TRADE IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26121, 25 May 1950, Page 4

TOURIST TRADE IN N.Z.

SURVEY BY AMERICAN TRAVEL AGENTS HOTEL REQUIREMENTS DISCUSSED “The people of the United States want to travel, and would come to New Zealand, but they are not prepared to spend 1500 dollars travelling from the United States to New Zealand and then find the hotel facilities not up to the standard they expect," said Mr Malcolm La Prade, of Thomas Cook and Sons, New York, yesterday. With Messrs L. Campbell Threlkeld. of the Glendale Travel Service, and C. A. Lambourne. of the Lambourne Travel Service, both of California. Mr La Prade arrived in Christchurch yesterday in the course of a tour of the Dominion. They intend to explore the possibilities of tourist trade in New Zealand. Accompanying the party is the assistantgeneral manager of the New Zealand Tourist Department (Mr R. M. Firth). Discussing hotels. Mr La Prade said that each American tourist would expect a room with a private bath, and plenty of hot water. There were other minor facilities they would expect as well, such as the provision of lights round a shaving mirror. This was a little point, but these little points were important. “From what I have seen since my arrival in New Zealand I do not think the hotels are up to the standard required,” he said. The service at the hotels, and the food were excellent, said Mr Lambourne. What was more, New Zealand had the types of cereals eaten by Americans in the United States. These, in most parts of Europe, where a large percentage of American tourist traffic went, were unobtainable. Asked if it would be a difficult matter to improve hotel facilities in a short time. Mr La Prade said the difficulties could be overcome by building extra wings on the hotels and by bringing them up to date. If the hotels were brought up to date and provided the facilities expected by the American tourist, the hotels could in turn increase their tariffs. The tourist would not “jib” at the prices if the service and facilities were satisfactory. Finger-Printing Police restrictions in the Dominion were another factor that might influence the decisions of American tourists wanting to travel in New Zealand, said Mr La Prade. and though he was not complaining, he did consider that these restrictions could be abolished to a large extent. The American tourist wanted to travel freely and not be hampered by too many restrictions. Each tourist on arrival in the country had his finger prints taken and had to produce three photographs. He said he understood this was a war-time restriction and he recommended its abolition. Sucn restrictions had been abolished in Europe. “These restrictions all seem to make it appear that you don’t want tourists. Anything in the line of red tape acts as a deterrent to tourist traffic.” he said.

There was a big back-log of tourists in the United States —people who wished to make long distance trips. It was anticipated this year that 440.0C0 American tourists would cross the Atlantic. Of this number about 175.000 would go to the United Kingdom.

The travel business was the third largest business in the United States, said Mr La Prade. Last year about

10 billion dollars wa.s spent in all types of travel in the country. Of this amount more than a billion dollars was spent in travelling overseas. Canada would in all likelihood have collected a large amount of this, as tourists could drive their cars over the border. Mexico also received about 80.000.000 dollars from tourist traffic. From the little he had already seen of Now Zealand he considered the roads were excellent, said Mr La Prade. and air transport in and to the country was very good. To-day the party will travel to Hokitika, from where they will go to the glaciers. On their return they will stop at Westport and pass through Nelson. From Nelson they will fly to Wellington where interviews have been arranged with different organisations and persons interested in tourist traffic. They will pass through the North Island, then fly to Suva and to Australia. RECENT TOURIST CONFERENCE MINISTER’S REPORT ON PROGRESS Progress achieved on recommendations since the New Zealand national tourist conference was hold two months ago is reported by the Minis-ter-in-charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr F. W. Doidge) in a memorandum to delegates. Since the conference, the South Island Travel Association's executive has assured transport, accommodation, and publicity interests that it will support them in any manner possible. Leading advertising agents in the main centres had formed panels to discuss means of improving tourist advertising overseas. reports Mr Doidge. Some of the panels had already met and recommendations would soon be submitted to him. American newspapers had no direct representation in New Zealand, and it was therefore difficult to have articles on New Zealand published in the American press. However, visiting journalists could assist and the Tourist and Publicity Department would extend every facility to them. The Department was co-operating with the shipping companies and airlines in distributing abroad publicity 'material of a high standard. The adoption of a tourist slogan was to be considered by the advertising panels and joint promotion of the tourist trade with Australia and Fiji was to be taken up with the other Governments. Off-season reduced air fares between North America and New Zealand were discussed at a conference oL traffic managers, but difficulties under the International Air Transport Association’s regulations limited seriously the extent to which such reductions could be granted. The airlines had indicated that they were pursuing the prospects as energetically as possible. “My Department is preparing a scheme for making New Zealanders more tourist-conscious, and I hope that a concerted effort of all interested will, as a result, be made within the next few months.” reports Mr Doidge. A meeting of Government Departments with a view to minimising entry and exit formalities would be held before the end of this, month.

Members of the Licensing Control Commission and the Price Tribunal had discused with him and departmental officers all aspects of providing incentives for hotel interests to enlarge and improve accommodation for tourists. Considerable progress had been made and another meeting with a view to reaching finality would be held soon. Staff for Hotels The recommendation by the national conference for the immigration of suitable hotel employees was being considered in relation to the Government's immigration scheme in general. The building and extension of hotels and the import of furnishings would be discussed with the authorities allocating building priorities, “to see what can be done to give effect to these proposals at the earliest possible date.” “It is proposed to take action to increase the standard and extent of the accommodation now provided at the departmental hotels at Franz Josef, Te Anau. and Milford.” says the report. "‘I have recently made visits of ini spections to these and other resorts to ' ascertain the improvements required.” ■ The Tourist Department was endeavouring to follow the policy of restricting conferences from January to April. The licensed trade would' coI operate.