Issue taken with critics

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 2

Issue taken with critics

The Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) took issue in Christchurch yesterday with critics of the (Government’s involvement in tourism.

Opening the tenth annual convention of the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand, Mr Rowling said that the Government would not abrogate its legitimate interests in this field. “But at the same time, the Government is not forcing — land has neither the intention nor the ability to force — the private sector of the tourist industry out of business,” he said. Nor was it introducing "unfair competition” as had recently been suggested. Tourist Hotel Corporation holdings represented only 1 per cent of all licensed hotels and taverns in New Zealand. “Obviously, the Government’s combined provision of (hotel accommodation and the (sale of travel can represent [only a very small percentage tof the whole,” Mr Rowling said.

A partner The Government was a partner in this vital and growing sector of the econ-i omy but it was not a sleepting partner. It had an obligaItion to the country to ensure i the careful development of all resources, including tourism. The recent devaluation' would encourage more over--seas visitors to come to New; Zealand. “I also expect some over-1 I seas visitors to budget their! itrip in their own currency. ;and thus spend more in New! ’Zealand.” he said. “I expect these features to j : compensate for the lower ! foreign-exchange earnings from fixed-price tours and to help us in overcoming the in world tourism.”' i New Zealands’ tourist industry was a healthy one, Mr ■Rowling said. It was now the| fourth earner of foreign ex-i change after wool, dairy pro-i [ducts, and manufacturedin spite of the slowdown i in world tourism, travel receipts for the year to August; were the highest recorded, at : $29.3m — 35 per cent abovethe previous year. Mr Rowling sounded a note: of warning when he spoke' about the service offered by! travel agents. “There is definitely a need for consumer protection: those travel agents or others who cannot deliver .what they advertise or who 'leave clients stranded,” he .said. “Luckily, New Zealand 1 has remained reasonably immune from this activity, but- we must be aware of what appears to be a developing trend overseas.” The association, he said, | must be commended for its! bonding system which en-; sured cover for clients of its: members. But some were outside this. /‘safety net.” and legislation -had been suggested to safeguard the public against the unscrupulous. The Government would watch the situation. Mr Rowling also warned: .travel agents against over- 1 'commercialisation.

"An obsession with ‘profit at all cost and the rest be damn’ can lead to cultural pollution and misunderstandings,” he said. “In parts of the Pacific, tourism has tended to create a false culture. Tourists somehow expect. and are prepared to accept, what the travel industry has trained them to expect. “Even New Zealand has not escaped entirely, with shoddy imitations passed off as true examples of Maori culture . . . “We need to know much more about the very complex ways in which cultures and communities are influenced by tourist development,” Mr Rowling said. “A way of life is irreplaceable. Investors can move their moneys to other areas, but a broken culture cannot be pieced together again.”