‘Tourists should go home broke’

Press, 2 September 1986, Page 2

‘Tourists should go home broke’

Tourists from overseas should not leave New Zealand with spending money in their pockets, said the National Party spokesman on tourism, Mr John Banks, yesterday. Too many tourists were leaving New Zealand with money they had intended to spend here. Tourist strategies should be developed so that visitors stayed longer, spent more money, and returned home “broke,” but looking forward to their next visit, he said. Mr Banks said the potential for growth in the

tourist industry was “brilliant” but New Zealand’s reputation as a safe country with friendly people must be maintained.

“Nothing will kill the international tourist industry faster than rampant violence on our streets,” he said. Mr Banks said the police should be given greater resources and the Judiciary should hand out sentences which reflected the community’s concern about violence. New Zealand’s rift with the United States over

A.N.Z.U.S. should not affect tourism, but there was evidence that threats to safety could dramatically reduce tourist levels, he said. American airlines had lost a billion dollars from the 50 per cent decline in North Americans visiting Europe yet only 23 United States tourists died in terrorist attacks. There were more deaths from bee stings than terrorism, Mr Banks said. Long-term tourist planning was essential and the National Party was drawing up policies to encourage more professionalism and investment. Mr Banks praised the way Christchurch was responding to the accom-* modation needs of tourists but criticised the way town-planning procedures could delay development. “People have a right 0 reasonable objections bbt only one right of redress. In cases of blind vindictiveness they should pay the costs of all parties;’’ he said.