DOLLAR TOURIST TRADE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 4

DOLLAR TOURIST TRADE

SUGGESTED NEEDS OF NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING SERVICE TO CALIFORNIA URGED (New Zealand Press Association} WELLINGTON. May 31. The dollar tourist trade to Now Zealand will not reach its peak until a direct passenger shipping service to California is restored, according Io . three American tourist experts . now’ visiting New Zealand on business. They are Mr C. A. Lambourne, of Bakersfield. California: Mr Malcolm La Prade, of Thomas Cook and Son. New York; and Mr L. Campbell Trelkeld, of Glendale, near Los Angeles. The three men believe that a direct shipping service, combined with the competitive fares they anticipate among trans-Pacific air services, will be the first requirement lor “selling” New Zealand as a destination to their customers. Since tl\ey arrived in New Zealand a week ago. most of their time has been spent on the ■ West Coast of the South Island, where they were during last week’s floods. Mr La Prade described the scenery as "Switzerland, Norway, the Vale of Kashmir, and the Italian lakes all rolled into one.” New Zealand hotel food he found surprisingly good: but he suggested that Americans liked to have a bathroom and shower with every hotel bedroom. Reading lights j over the bods and lights over the bathroom mirrors would also be welcome. Mr Lambourne emphasised the need for persistent publicity for New Zea- , land in America. American tourist ] agencies considering sending parties ‘ to New Zealand were faced with the difficulty of hotel bookings for 20 to | 25 people at once in the smaller ; towns. | "Night life is always desirable.” said Mr La Prade. “It is not a requirement peculiar to American tourists. I have never heard New Zealand or Australian tourists in Now York criticising the town for too much night life. All tourists like night life, even New Zealanders tour-

ing in New Zealand. Americans will make their own night life, anyway, unless you lock them up.”