The Tourist Industry

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 12

The Tourist Industry

The Labour Government’s recognition of» the potential value of the tourist trade to New Zealand was indicated by the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr Mathison) in an address to the Wellington conference of travel clubs. Last month, the Minister announced that the Government’s policy on the tourist trade would be made public in June. In drafting it, the new Administration will be able to build on sound foundations laid by the previous Government. Since the Second World War, the number of overseas visitors has increased steadily—from 4488 in 1946 to 27,979 in 1956-57. Foreign exchange earnings have shown a similarly welcome increase. In 1956-57, they were £3,155,000, compared with £2,395,000 in the previous year; and dollar earnings rose to 1,028,300 dollars, compared with 651,900 dollars. The tourist industry has thus established itself as the Dominion’s largest earner of overseas exchange, after the primary industries; and it is playing an increasingly important part in financing the country’s external trading. For instance, the £BOO,OOO in sterling exchange contributed annually by visitors from Britain is sufficient to service 25 per cent, of New Zealand’s debt in the United Kingdom. In recent years, useful progress has been achieved in making New Zealand more attractive to overseas tourists. The Tourist Hotel Corporation is dping valuable work in providing ’for their accommodation at 10 of the principal resorts; the liberalisation of shopping hours under the new Shops and Offices Act has in some measure

remedied visitors’ complaints about lack of service; the Licensing Control Commission has shown awareness of tourists’ requirements; and the lifting of price controls has encouraged the hotel industry to maintain accommodation of a better standard. Obviously, however, still more can be done to stimulate this important industry. The last annual report of the Tourist and Publicity Department referred to the next three years as a ■‘'critical period” for the New Zealand tourist trade — critical because of the extraordinarily rapid development of international shipping and air services. “By 1959 ”, said the report, “new, large, jet passen- “ ger planes will each carry as “ many passengers in a year as “ a large passenger liner. We “ have to decide . . . whether “to accelerate our preparation “for this tide of visitors and “ to reap the harvest they wil- “ lingly bring, or allow it to “ flow aside ”. Good overseas publicity is an excellent investment for New Zealand, which urgently requires to develop its sources of overseas funds. But, as the department’s report pointed out, publicity has to be supported by services which will satisfy the discriminating visitor. Already, international transport operators are themselves giving invaluable publicity to the Dominion. Their continued interest will depend on the satisfaction of their customers with their reception in New Zealand. The Government, therefore, has a prime responsibility to foster by every practicable means the provision of tourist facilities to match the country’s magnificent scenic attractions.