Japanese not spoken here?

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 12

Japanese not spoken here?

Being a tourist in a country where almost no-one speaks your language is a serious problem. It is a problem that faces the growing number of Japanese tourists coming to New Zealand. The Minister of Tourism (Mr Cooper) is surely mistaken in suggesting that New Zealand examine its immigration laws to see whether more Japanese could be admitted to act as tourist guides. The simple solution to the problem is to have more people who are tourist guides speak Japanese. Already a number of shops, restaurants, hotels and other . tourist establishments employ staff who can speak Japanese. This policy is far-sighted and, as the numbers of tourists from Japan increase, such appointments may become essential. ■

Until recently it has been possible for tourist establishments to get by with English because most of those coming to New Zealand have , spoken English. It should not be impossible for staff who have the qualification of speaking Japanese to be found. Last week it was reported that apparently capable students in the Christchurch Polytechnic course in Japanese are haying difficulty in finding jobs in the tourist industry.' Their problem is obviously at odds with Mr Cooper’s suggestion.

In Christchurch alone, Japanese is taught at some high schools, at the Polytechnic, and at the University of Canterbury. Among them, such teaching institutions should be able to train the comparatively small number of tourist guides, receptionists, and others needed for the industry in the South Island. Dunedin would be able to train some as well. Admittedly, New Zealanders are not generally recognised as good linguists. This lack, if indeed it is

a real one, is probably best explained by the isolation of the country. In Europe, by contrast, it is easy to learn a language at school and, by a short journey, easy to visit the country where the language is spoken. This disadvantage must surely be capable of being surmounted, if only by the fact that many Japanese people come to New Zealand.

Most people, doubtless Japanese too, travel abroad because of the differences between other countries and their own. For Japanese to travel to New Zealand to be shown New. Zealand, by Japanese-: would seem ' to be selfdefeating.' For the sake of everyday convenience, as well as because life and safety may depend on understanding, directions or instructions, it would seqm prudent to have, sufficient people, to' give directions, V advice-, and. inforffiationin the language of- the tourist. One of the important questions will be about the speed with which New Zealand can adapt to this need for people to be able to speak a foreign language sufficiently well, Japanese are not the only tourists to come to .New Zealand whose native tongue is not English, but their numbers are growing steadily by about 20 per cent a year. In 1970 about 3000 tourists from Japan came to. New Zealand; last year there were 17J)00, still accounting for only 4 per' • cent of New Zealand’s total tourist traffic. The direct flights between Japan and New Zealand may bring a great upsurge in numbers; Finding people who will show them around New Zealand and be able to explain the country in Japanese should not be beyond the capabilities of New Zealanders. Finding guides among New Zealanders should also appeal to the visitors.