Effect Of Bus Ban On Tourist Trade

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31177, 29 September 1966, Page 5

Effect Of Bus Ban On Tourist Trade

The ban by the National Roads Board on buses on Arthur’s Pass would harm New Zealand’s tourist trade with Australia, said the managing director of Group Travel, N.Z., Ltd. (Mr E. J. Johnston) in Christchurch yesterday.

“Many of our passengers, particularly Australians, have commented that the bus trip through Arthur’s Pass and the Otira Gorge has been the highlight of their tour,” he said.

Two principal suppliers of tour coaches —Days Motors, Ltd., and New Zealand Railways Road Services—had given assurances that their drivers had not found it necessary to reverse on. any corners on this route recently. Mr Johnston said that the district officer of the Transport Department "(Mr D. L. Hogan) had endeavoured to bolster his case by citing a tour agency which stopped using the Arthur’s Pass route. The year this happened and

the type of bus used would be relevant, he added. Mr Johnston said the Tourist Department combined with Air New Zealand and many other travel interests in spending thousands of pounds in Australia annually to promote New Zealand holidays. “Is it not ludicrous that we have another Governmentsponsored body in the National Roads Board obstructing the essential progress of the tourist industry?” he asked.

“Australians coming to New Zealand already pay a levy of 20 per cent because of the exchange differential,” Mr Johnston said. “We must, therefore, keep the cost of t h ?ir holiday here as low as possible and ensure as well that they travel on the most scenic routes. “We can do neither of these things for overseas visitors, or for New Zealand holidaymakers, if we are forced to take buses through the Lewis Pass, a further 88 miles on each tour.”

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