TOURIST TRADE TO N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 10

TOURIST TRADE TO N.Z.

“TOO FEW DOLLARS SPENT” AMERICAN VISITOR’S VIEW “We feel that too few tourist dollars are coming to this area,” said Mr Robert Murray, jun., a vice-president of Pan American World Airways, in Christchurch yesterday. ".Last year tourists spent 2,500,000,000 dollars throughout me world—and Americans alone spent 1,500,000,000 dollars, which may reach 2,000,000,000 dollars this year,” he said. "Tourists bring more dollars to Europe than any other single source. Britain received £165,000.000 last year, and Italy £115,000,000. Yet less than 1 per cent, of the total tourist trade in dollars is s v ent in the South Pacific area.

’’Any country which is having a dollar currency problem should look into the tourist possibilities. It is well worth while, because it is the easiest dollar to cultivate,” said Mr Murray. Conversations which Mr Murray had in Auckland, may lead to the building there of a 400-room "five-star class” hotel for New Zealand’s dollar tourists.

“I had a number of interesting conversations when I was in Auckland,” said Mr Murray. “No negotiations were entered into—we have not nearly reached that stage yet—but Aickland is a possibility.” Pan American operated the largest chain of hotels in the world, said Mr Murray, and would always be interested in building a hotel in any country where there was a demand for high-class accommodation.

“Auckland would be a good city for a high-class—not luxury—hotel.” he said. His company often initiated such projects, but usually had a minority holding in the properties. ‘Tn that way the hotel is owned by the people in the country where it is built.”

Mr Murray said his wife thought New Zealand the most beautiful country she had seen.

They arrived in Auckland two weeks ago. and were passing through Christchurch on their way to the Southern lakes. It is their first visit to New Zealand.