Govt tourism role urged

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 39

Govt tourism role urged

PA Greymouth The Government should adopt a more dominant role in promoting New Zealand as a tourist destination, the New Zealand Air Facilitation Conference was told in Greymouth. Mr A. I. R. Jamieson, former managing director of Midland Coachlines, said New Zealand should be marketed with stronger appeal as an "I must go there" attraction for tourists. Then private enterprise could direct its promotional budget to the various components of the industry —

travel seats, hotel-motel beds, coach tours — and the two sectors could work together more profitably. Mr Jamieson, who is also president of the Automobile Association of New Zealand, said that for too long successive Ministers of Tourism had not enjoyed the importance of status that the portfolio deserved. “The tourist dollar is the easiest international one we can earn and the base ingredient in its success does not need improving: it is there year after year."

Mr Jamieson said that more attractive flight timetables could be a factor in increasing the number of tourists from Australia. Without wishing to make a play of the North-South syndrome, he said, “Timetabling out of Australia to Christchurch has been most unattractive at times, not . only to travellers but to handling staff and tourist agencies.” New Zealand, he believed, must continue to look to Australia for the main share of its inbound traffic for a long time ahead.