Criticism Of N.Z. At P.A.T.A. Conference

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 18

Criticism Of N.Z. At P.A.T.A. Conference

■ A significant fact to emerge from the Pacific Area Travel Association conference held at Djakarta, Indonesia, was that New Zealand was still the only country in the Pacific not served by jet airliners, said Mr H. R. Wigley, managing-director of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company, Ltd., on his return to New Zealand after having spent two weeks ait the PATA. conference. He said the feet that the Dominion was not yet served by pure jet services had been commented on and criticised at the conference. New Zealand had also been criticised for its slow development of tourist class hotels. He said Hong Kong last year had provided about 2000 beds for the tourist industry while the Dominion’s contribution had been practically non-existent.

About 15 New Zealanders were present at the conference which was attended by about 400 representatives from 28 Pacific nations, said Mr Wigley. Most of those present had been impressed with the expressions of peace and the need for Indonesia to develop its potential in its own way.

Mr Wigley said President ' Soekarno, who opened the conference, was “a terrific personality.” Delegates to the conference had been individually presented to him at his palace and had been shown his wonderful collection of paintings, he said. At | the conference. President Soekarno had given the impression he wanted to use tourism to exchange ideas with other countries, to promote friendliness between nations, and to provide economic benefits to his country. As a practical expression. Mr Wigley said, Indonesia had built a modern 400-bed tourist hotel containing every possible amenity at Djakarta. Others were to be built at Jogjakarta and Bali and in addition an international air- ■ port was planned for Bali, j Although Indonesia possesI sed its own internal airline; I the country had opened its I doors to every major airline

carrier, said Mr Wigley. This in itself would ensure more tourists entering the country. New Zealand, too, should take a more active part in doing something similar, and the sooner the better.

The Indonesian Government flew some of the delegates to Bali and several other nearby islands. Although they were some 30 miles away from the major devastation, he said, Mt. Agung could be seen erupting. As the area was very populous, the refugees appeared to have been absorbed locally because outwardly there was no indication of the disaster. The delegates were flown to Bali by Hercules aircraft, which later returned to Djakarta to pick up consignments of rice for delivery to the refugees.

Mr Wigley said he had been very impressed with the manner in which Indonesia was setting about establishing itself as a nation. The country possessed vast natural potential and there was scarcely any mineral that was not available in the country. “It was my impression that the people wanted mainly peace and the opportunity to develop their country in their own way,” be said.