N.Z. TOURIST INDUSTRY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28922, 16 June 1959, Page 10

N.Z. TOURIST INDUSTRY

“Aggressive Plan

Needed”

In spite of an increase of 1400 visitors last year, New Zealand’s tourist income dropped by £461,000, or 13 per cent., says the annual report of the president of the .Holiday and Travel association (Mr J. Newman), to be presented at the convention in Christchurch this week.

“Do we know why?’’ asks the report. “It cannot blithely be dismissed as a ‘sign of the times.’ as most ' other countries’ tourist earnings were up, including those of our nearest neighbours, Australia and Fiji. “It would indeed be difficult to deny that this alarming drop in tourist earnings results from the absence of an aggressive long-term plan for the development of our tourist industry.” The healthy membership of the association, says the report, was reflected in healthy finances and in the last year £16,000 was spent on promotional work. From an overall national picture of tourism, however, there was cause for reflection. The year could be termed as one of inertia, as no major tourist developmental move had occurred and no long-term plan for the future of the industry had yet been launched.

“It has been truly a year of waiting, waiting for a declaration of Government policy, waiting for committees to be set up, waiting for reports to come down, waiting for decisions —decisions vital to the future of the tourist industry.’’ The initiative was fairly and squarely on New Zealand’s shoulders whether it not only wished to be included in the main jet routes sweeping the South Pacific. Accommodation Problems

It was not surprising that hotel owners and prospective investors refused to consider the provision of additional accommodation under existing controls and restrictions suffered by the accommodation industry generally, says Mr Newman. “Although I still believe there is an enormous potential future for the tourist industry in New Zealand, forthright action is required now,’’ concludes Mr Newman. “An aggressive development plan must be adopted and put into practice without any further delay The Pacific area represents the fastest expanding tourist area in the world. Our nearest Pacific neighbours, Australia and Fiji, are forging ahead at a rapid rate with tourist development and, therefore, we have only ourselves to blame if we are not well up with the leaders of Pacific tourism.’’