Travel Office

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 10

Travel Office

The opening of the South Island’s first Stars Travel office by the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning) on September 26 forges yet another link in the chain binding New Zealand to international tourism and the world’s travel routes.

Stars Travel acts as local representative for American Express, one of the world’s largest travel organisations. In his opening address. Sir George Manning said it would be a “tremendous asset” to have such a company represented in Christchurch. American Express has 490 offices and about 2000 representatives throughout the world.

Placed as it is on the fringe of Cathedral Square, fronting on to Hereford Street, the new office is ideally situated to take advantage of the booming Christchurch tourist industry. Christchurch is the obvious, and only, point of entry for overseas tourists wishing to see the beauty spots of the South Island. The greater the overseas publicity given Mount Cook, Haast, Franz Josef, Wanaka Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound, the greater the flow of tourists passing through Christchurch to see them. • Stars Travel, because of its overseas connections, is particularly well equipped to assist in 4he development of this traffic. The office will also be able to take its share of the business created by the increasing number of New Zealanders travelling overseas. Again, its situation in the Bank of New Zealand gives convenience of access to the general public. Mr P. J. Counihan, the Christchurch manager, said he had been particularly pleased at the response to low-cost, short-duration tours to Fiji. This type of tour was becoming increasingly popular and usually lasted for nine to 12 days With greatly improved travel facilities during the last few years, island tour rates can now cater for luxury or low-budget holidays. Naturally, Stars Travel will arrange for any overseas tour —but the island tours are increasingly in demand.

Stars Travel has offices at Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington, as well as its new premises in Christchurch. The firm intends to set up an office at Invercargill—and this network will enable it to look after its clients as they pass through New Zealand.

The new office is part of the walk-in area and is comfortably furnished for the customer’s convenience. "It should make a notable addition to the Christchurch tourist and travel agent complex.