N.Z. Tourist Industry Urged To “Be Modem”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 16

N.Z. Tourist Industry Urged To “Be Modem”

As ht 14ft Christchurch, his birthplace 78 years ato, to return to Canada, the country of his adoption, On Monday, Mr A. F. Seott, who has travelled the world, left behind some advice on and criticism - of New Zealand’s facilities for tourists. Both advice and criticism were friendly, he said, for he wanted to see New Zealand prosper and one. way to achieve that was to build up the tourist industry.

Mr Scott left New Zealand 55 years ago and since then has worked in many countries as an engineer on big construction works. Now, with an enthusiasm and physical ability belying his years, he has spent about three months in New Zealand shooting Colour dim, some Of which will be shown on television in Canada. ‘‘Stagger your Closing days for business,” was Mr Scott’s first advice on how to encourage tourism. It was prompted by his first experience on returning to New Zealand, for he arrived at the Labour Day weekend to find that “the only places open were the hotels.”

Tourists wanted the same facilities as they had in their home countries, Mr Seott said, and wanted their cheeked baggage to follow them 'promptly, yet he had to wait up to 10 days for some of his baggage to catch up with him in Christchurch. Refreshment Rooms Improvements should be made in the amenities provided for bus and railway travellers, Mr Seott said, and he pointed to the PictonChristchurch rail service as an example of poor amenities. The train stopped at Kaikoura for luneh. Because there was no seating provided in the refreshment room, tourists were forced to have whatever they could find to eat —“there was little tempting or varied in the offering,” he said—standing up against an eight-inch ledge that ran round the room. Again at Lumsden, an important junction, he found the same inconvenience. “Not good enough for tourists,” he added. Then, Mr Scott found that bus services, apart from one or two companies, paid little attention to their passengers. "I was amazed that there were no comfort stops,” he said. “Every bus service in the States and Canada has them, and all service stations

there are equipped with clean, hygienic rest rooms for men and women. I was amazed here to find that I still had to go up and tap the driver on the shoulder when I wanted a stop.” New Zealand’s finest’ scenery was in the South Island, and Christchurch had a fine international airport, yet the Government refused to allow Canadian planes to come on to Christchurch, Mr Scott continued. “People are landed at Auckland, rushed to Rotorua and then baek to Auckland and away; that's all they see of the country.” He had met people in Canada who had been bitterly disappointed at what they had seen, or rather how little they had been shown, and they would tell their friends, he said. That was one reason why he wanted to see New Zealand’s tourist facilities improved—to justify his continuous praise of the country Overseas. Hotel Service Mr Scott had some criticism of New Zealand hotels but the tourist hotel at Milford Sound did much to restore his opinion of New Zealand hospitality, for everything there was “perfection, pleasant and comfortable.” But at Milford also there was need for improvement, he said. The trip to the Quintin Huts was too strenuous for “people getting on in years,” and many tourists came into that age group, he said. He had made the trip quite comfortably, and had made the strenuous climb to see the Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest waterfall, but there were many people who could not get there. “Yet it is a great sight and one tourists would want to see,” Mr Scott said. “What, you need is a railway or monorail from the huts. There are many people who would spend days in the area but cannot get there because of the very rough trail.” As to cost, Mr - Scott said that as far back as 1906, when he was in Switzerland, there had been a . double-cog centre-railway from Lucerne to climb Mount Palatis, i and a single-cog centre-rail seri vice ran to hostels, which gave a i magnificent view. “The tourists . flocked there,” he said. "Surely what could be done so long ago could be done here today so that i visitors from overseas could see the magnificence of the Sutherland Falls, and the surrounding ■ country.

Otira Gorge Attraction

“And your Otira Gorge," he added. “Don’t let them close that It was world-famous during my boyhood days. Keep the gorge open, for it is the most sensational tourist attraction in Canterbury. The rata on the hills in bloom in January and the wonderful greenery make a grand scene. Bridge the gap at Candy’s bend and take your tourist over the Alps instead of through them.” As he left, with a half-promise to return next year, although he may go to Europe, and also wants to have another look at Johannesburg, Mr Scott offered as final advice to New Zealand’s tourist industry: “Be modern, change With the times, and people will then marvel at your endeavours and the wonderful scenic attractions. More and more people will come to see them, and you will find that the tourist industry has built itself for you.”