Apartheid no worry to most tourists

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 16

Apartheid no worry to most tourists

Apartheid and the problems of race seldom, if ever, seemed to worry the average tourist visiting his country, said the manager of the South African Tourist Corporation for Australia and New Zealand (Mr L. Gould) in Christchurch yesterday.

The wildlife was the main draw for tourists visiting South Africa, and though he had conducted about a dozen tourism seminars in Australia and New Zealand, the only questions about race relationships came from newspaper reporters.

“The average man certainly doesn’t seem to be affected by the issues of race in my country. What he appears to be more interested in is our Rugby team and whether or

not the All Blacks can beat them,” said Mr Gould. However, it appeared that the more the country was “pilloried” on its apartheid policy the more interest was taken in South Africa by people in other lands. “Many tourists are curious about this policy and want to see at first hand what it is all about,” he said. HOTEL DEVELOPMENT Accommodation for tourists was not a great problem in South Africa, said Mr Gould.

“Now and again, just as in New Zealand, you hear reports that there is a serious shortage of accommodation, but somehow we generally seem to manage to everyone’s satisfaction.” Tremendous hotel development was under way, with improved accommodation standards. Since 1961, when a branch office for Australia and New ealand was established, there had been a growing number of travellers from these countries visiting South Africa, he said. In 1961 between 1500 and 2000 Australians and New Zealanders had visited South Africa and in 1969 the figure has risen to 11,000. He was optimistic that the figures for 1970 would be even higher, said Mr Gould.