No Bed For Tourist Agent

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 1

No Bed For Tourist Agent

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 16. Fifty per cent scenery and 50 per cent service was the ideal tourism formula, said Dr. Mario Petrucci on his arrival in Auckland where he was told there was no bed available in any city hotel. ’

Dr. Petrucci, who is staying with a business friend at his suburban home, is direc-tor-general of one of the largest of Italy’s 800 travel agencies. “In Italy, where one-third of the national income is from tourism, we place these two on an equal footing,” said Dr Petrucci.

“As a visitor making his first visit, I am afraid I was not impressed when told there was no room.

"I was told there is a congress of some sort in progress.

“It appears there is a shortage of hotel beds.” Dr. Petrucci is visiting New Zealand with a twofold purpose—to encourage New Zealanders to visit Italy and to investigate the possibility of bringing Italians here on tour. He has also visited Australia.

The promotion of tourism was the responsibility of the government of a country, he said. The New Zealand Government was not doing enough. “We don’t hear very much about New Zealand in Italy," he said. Promotion should be undertaken in two ways, said Dr. Petrucci.

A large quantity of information must be sent to other countries, but also, visitors must be sponspred on visits. "Journalists and travel agents must tour so they can ‘touch’ the country concerned. I “This should be done, not

once a year, but all the time. The Government should pay. ’ Dr. Petrucci today visited Auckland travel agents. “And perhaps,” he said. “I may also find a hotel bed.”