Northland may get $100m new tourist resort

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 5

Northland may get $100m new tourist resort

(brom

BRIAR CAMBOURN)

AUCKLAND. The tourist industry will investigate developing a “man-made” resort i that might cost up to SI 00m. The suggested site for the resort which j "ould cover about 26 sq. km. is Northland. The project, which is still tentative, might incorporate a marina, a 4000 ft airstrip, several golf courses, cottages for lease, and camping facilities.

The general manager ofi N.A.C. (Mr D. A. Patterson)' said at a news media forum! on tourism in Auckland, that! the corporation and Mount! Cook Airlines had already made preliminary feasibility studies, and were assured of backing from other sectors the travel industry. He envisaged the venture developing in self-sufficient stages over 20 years. OVERSEAS OWNERSHIP Overseas investment would undoubtedly be sought, but he set an arbitrary limit of 20 per cent overseas, ownership. The resort would probably be built on Maori land; he could see m difficulties in arranging a lease in perpetuity. The resort would preferably be in a remote area. He envisages financial support from brewery groups, the accommodation industry, tour firms and airlines. Overseas interests whose money was invested in the venture would also be active in promoting it, Mr Patterson said. This year he hoped to find ! enough agreement within the j travel industry to begin (drafting proposals. The project would relieve! (pressure on spots that were] i now becoming “too com-1

rnercialised. and if not over-j crowded then close to saturation point.” He cited Queenstown as an example of the resorts under pressure. New Zealand had relied on its natural resources as tourist attractions to the detriment of man-made resorts which were proven revenue earners, Mr Patterson said. The industry’ needed to get away from the traditional concepts of thermal pools, mountains, and lakes. The Rotorua “tourist diamond” and the southern lakes, and glaciers would still remain as options. The Northland proposal would provide a complementary service. But the fishing would be better, and so would the golf courses. HELPING ECONOMY “New Zealand’s standard of living depends mainly on our ability to earn foreign exchange.” Mr Patterson said. “Tourism should be recognised as a major industry in New Zealand capable of providing a broader base to our extenal trade, and, most important, of making a substantial net gain to the economy.” New Zealand badly underlestimated the value of tour[ism as an earner of overseas (funds, Mr Patterson said.

, However, many New Zealanders disliked tourists en masse.

The "friendly New Zealander” was willing to be 'helpful, courteous and kind to the individual visitor, he said. However, the same citizen, confronted with the invasion of his favourite scenic spot by “hordes of tourists,” became a different person.

An area equipped with excellent tourist facilities could lose reputation through the indifference or the downright opposition of the community. An individual’s attitude to the lone visitor or to the group became part of the memories the visitor took home with him, Mr Patterson said. The "less than serious” view of tourism held by some people could be the fault of the tourist industry itself.

Inevitably promotion of scenic resorts made the tourist industry appear given to entertainment, hospitality, and jazzy superficiality.

Weight-lifting.—Valentin Chrlstov of Bulgaria set a heavyweight record with a snatch of 185.0 kilograms In the European weight-lifting championships in East Berlin. Christov bettered Ills own record of last year by five kilograms.