Group Tours May Be Hit By Strike

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31235, 6 December 1966, Page 3

Group Tours May Be Hit By Strike

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 5. Hundreds of Australians booked on organised tours of New Zealand may not be able to meet their hotel bookings if the Qantas strike continues.

Travel agents have become worried that the strike will continue into their peak booking periods in two weeks' time.

Several hundred Australians are scheduled to arrive in the country on group and independent tours within the next fortnight, Mr R. S. Austin, deputy General Manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department, said today.

Hotel beds could be left empty throughout the country at the most lucrative time of the year, if group tours failed to eventuate. Most tours have more than 30 people involved. There would be a substantial loss in tourist revenue for New Zealand. Mr Austin said the booking position was being closely watched so that the tourists

could reach New Zealand as planned. By mid-December group tours would arrive in New Zealand “almost every day,” he said. At present alternative transTasman transport had been found for the tourists. The department’s Sydney and Melbourne offices had been able to find sea bookings for many passengers. Exports Affected Air freight exports worth thousands of pounds are being held up in New Zealand by the strike. The outward air cargo capacity has dropped by half and exports of meat strawberries, general foodstuffs and manufactured goods have been affected. Airlines are giving first preference to passengers and mails.