Brisbane-Christchurch Flights Wanted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 18

Brisbane-Christchurch Flights Wanted

A man who would like to see a direct air service between Christchurch and Brisbane arrived in Christchurch yesterday. He is Mr S. W. Ivory, sales promotion officer of the Queensland Government Tourist Bureau.

He said that Queensland and New Zealand complemented each other. “We have the heat, the surf and the sunshine; you have the lush greenery and ski-ing.” It was thought that a direct air service from North America to Brisbane was an impossibility once, but it had been running successfully for a year or two, said Mr Ivory. Once two-way tourist traffic built up, an air service between the two cities could become a reality, he said. Mr Ivory said it was not very hard selling New Zealand to Queenslanders. “You are known as conservative and friendly while we have a reputation for being extroverts and they do say opposites attract,” he said. Mr Ivory is in New Zealand

to meet travel agents who are directing business from the South Island to Queensland. He said there was great potential for two-way traffic. It was just a question of educating the travelling public.

More and more New Zealanders were going to Queensland, he said. Many were often surprised at the moderate accommodation charges. But he advised travellers to book in advance.

Too many travellers arrived and then found tours on which they wished to travel booked out. This made them annoyed and spoiled their holiday. If bookings had been made beforehand such situations would not arise, he said. Mr Ivory said the Queensland Minister of Tourism was very interested in getting New Zealanders up into Northern Queensland and away from such places as Surfers’ Paradise. He cited the attractions of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef as being more than comparable.