Govt’s Tourism Role Questioned

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 1

Govt’s Tourism Role Questioned

The need for the New Zealand Government to be in the travel business was questioned in Christchurch yesterday by the representative of a United States travel organisation, Mrs C. Hyde. Her firm, Transportatio

Consultants International. Ltd, of Los Angeles, has offices throughout the United States, and represents Atlantic and Pacific Travel, Ltd and Associated Hotels of New Zealand. Asked about recent criticism of the Government Tourist Bureau in New York, Mrs a Hyde said her first reaction

when reading the report was that it was unfair.

“I can, of course, speak only of the set-up in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, and while they may not be terribly aggressive, they are in close touch and are conscientious,” she said. “They have irritated me a bit by having to refer things back to New Zealand, but they are very co-operative. “But having been the French Government’s representative at its travel office in Los Angeles for nine years I know of the difficulties of red tape,” said Mrs Hyde.

She is enthusiastic about New Zealanders. “You are delightful people to do business with, and this is a very good selling point. You are so charming, so helpful, so nice, and I’m not just being polite in saying this.”

She could not understand why the New Zealand Government was involved in selling tourism overseas. The Tourist Bureau was no doubt doing a very good job, but its role should be to promote tourism, not to sell. Air New Zealand, N.A.C., the Tourist Hotel Corporation, and the Tourist and Publicity Department were all promoting tourism. “Recently you had a mission of 22 to sell a domestic airline,” Mrs Hyde said. With the Government running tours there was .a tendency for a “take it or leave it” attitude, and it would be in New Zealand’s interests to close the tourist bureau and leave the selling to private enterprise. Some American agents still t had the impression that to do

business for tourists they had to go through the Government Tourist Bureau.

Other comments by Mrs Hyde included:— Hotels in New Zealand: “You are doing something to correct the situation, with new hotels of a good standard. Personally, if the service is good, I love the atmosphere of the old Victorian type.” Queenstown: “Anywhere else in the world it would be very sophisticated, an artists’ colony perhaps, with chic shops. The accommodation is quite nice and comfortable. As a resort it is beautiful, but from an international point "of view. . . .” Devaluation effect: “It should attract “more tourists if you don’t adjust your rates. I’ve seen this happen before.”

New Zealand’s image: “The friendly New Zealander has a big appeal. It’s the human touch that counts. Most tourists, except those who are specially interested, listen about the Maoris, but the culture doesn’t penetrate.” Future of tourism: “There will be a boom throughout the Pacific area. As to whether you are making adequate pre-paration-well, you are working at it, although you might be a little outdistanced. “People in the most lucrative market in the world don’t want to go to Hong Kong and the East, nor do they want to go to the Middle East. They are looking to a place they can go where there is nothing bad or threatening, and the south Pacific can provide a tremendous variety,” Mrs Hyde said. . _