SOUTH ISLAND TOURISM

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 18

SOUTH ISLAND TOURISM

New Proposals Outlined With the break from the national organisation, the South Island Publicity Association should immediately assert its position as the tourist organisation for the South Island, notwithstanding the obvious claim of the New Zealand Travel and Holidays Association, said Mr B. H. Paton in a report to the standing committee of the South Island association last evening. To that end, he proposed that the name should be changed to the South Island Publicity and Travel (or Tourist) Association, giving the initials. 5.1.P.A.T.A., which would emphasise the relationship with the Pacific Area Travel Association. The relationship, he proposed, should be changed by the transfer of the present P.A.T.A. associate membership to full active Government membership. There should be immediate application to the Government for a subsidy for South Island promotional work, he said, on the basis that the South Island proportion of the previous subsidy to the Tourist and Holidays Association should now be made to the association. It should also make representations to the Government for the establishment of a statutory tourist board, Mr Paton said. “Active Government membership of P.A.T.A., achieved through New Zealand Government sponsorship, would imply recognition of our association as the tourist organisation of the South Island bv the Government and by P.A.T.A.,”. he said.

Mr Paton proposed that the present executive should be replaced by a board of directors, which would include the mayors of cities and boroughs at present given membership of the executive by custom. Government nominees, South Island Local Bodies* Association nominees, representatives of the transport interests, hotel industry, travel agents, automobile associations, sports organisations and a proposed explorers* club. He said the proposed tourist board would represent both trade and community interests, and have functions somewhat analogous to the National Roads Board.