Late payment alleged

Press, 29 August 1986, Page 5

Late payment alleged

NZJN Tokyo , Some New Zealand travel companies provid- ’ ing services for Japanese . tourists in New Zealand have not been paid for up J to six months. Some hotels are also believed not to have ’ received payment for Japanese tours for some months. New Zealand tour and other travel firms have asked the Tourist and Publicity Department to lodge a formal complaint with the Japan Associa-

tion of Travel Agents over the delayed payments.

The department has responded by sending a letter to the Japanese association asking for help in solving the dispute.

The letter, dated August 25, says New Zealand “would not like the latepayment problem to upset the excellent future potential or the good relationship we enjoy with the Japanese travel market.” But it says that New Zealand businesses have

been suffering interest rates as high as 27 per cent with the result that some are having serious cash-flow problems. “In some cases... New Zealand travel firms have to wait for as long as six months, after the date of travel by the clients, for payment,” the letters says. Mr Ryuji Kashimura, a spokesman for the Japanese ’ agents’ association said the complaint would be addressed at a directors’ meeting in Perth on September 4.