Need For Tourist Publicity

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30897, 2 November 1965, Page 12

Need For Tourist Publicity

Canterbury has everything to offer the tourist, said Mr G. R. Burrowes, the president of the Canterbury Progress League, on his teturn to Christchurch this week from Sjdnex. He was a member of the Canterbury ( * r of Commerce delegation which visited the -\d ney trade fair last week.

Mr Burrowes said that, from ;discussions he had had with i several important businessmen in Sydney and Canberra, he was convinced that more publicity was required if New Zealand were to benefit from tourism —"today’s number one money-spinner." I "Australians are good money spenders but they must be catered for. To catch their tourist trade we must provide adequate transport and accommodation for all classes," Mr Burrowes said. "A roll-on, roll-off steamer service between Lyttelton and Sydney is not beyond the hounds of possibility. The Lyttelton terminal for the Lyttel-ton-Wellington service will be completed in a few weeks, while the Sydney terminal is already an accomplished fact.

“Already there is a roll-on-roll-off sei-vice between Tasmania and Melbourne, and at present plans are well under

way for a similar service between Brisbane and Sydney, a distance about equal to that between Lyttelton and Sydney. Anxious To Visit “Australians seem anxious to visit New Zealand. They would like to take their own cars and the setting up of such a service would also provide a passenger sea link between the two countries which is so urgently needed.” Mr Burrowes said that the new jet service between Svdnev and Christchurch also 1 made for easier access to New Zealand. The Canterbury Pro- : gress League through its public relations officer was competent to assist tourism and was willing and anxious to do so. _ While in Canberra Mr Burrowes had an interview with Mr A. E. Monaghan, the trade commissioner for New Zealand. who said New Zealand could greatly expand its export of certain commodities for the Australian market. Fish Exports Mr Monaghan made particular mention of fish, the market for which was being lost to Japan and South Africa. With the present jet service fruit and vegetables could he picked in New Zealand and marketed in Australia the same day. "Several businessmen said it was regrettable that New Zealand did not have a stand at the Sydney trade fair." said Mr Burrowes. “No less than 19 nations exhibited and thev were outstanding. “I do feel that our country would do well to cut out manv of its irksome controls. I anpreciate the economic situation, but if we are to make this an enticing country for manufactures, agricultural produce and overseas visitors we must adopt broader principles and less control," he said.