TOURIST TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 14

TOURIST TRAFFIC

THE BRITISH EFFORT

CASH VALUE RECOGNISED

(From "The Post's" Representative.) j LONDON, December 2. The Duke of Kent has suggested a new slogan—"Trade Follows the Tourist" "The British Isles do not occupy a very large place on the map, but they occupy a very important one," he said. "It is, however, very necessary to keep our country before the eyes of the rest of the world; it is even more necessary that the world should have a true "appreciation of us as a country. "The figures regarding the numbers of visitors to this country have increased year by year, and it is already certain that 1936 will be a record year. I understand that economists term the expenditure of visitors, from abroad an 'invisible export.' This, year the value of this invisible export will probably exceed £30,000,000—a very important contribution to our oversea trade. "I should like to quote Professor Ogilvie in saying that "the world that travels is likely to be a world at peace.' This association believes that over and above the cash basis of tourism there is the spiritual value of any effort to attract visitors and trade to this country. "While it would be foolish to pretend that the world at present is in a harmonious state, it is always possible to take a hopeful view. This association is wise in striking a cheerful note in its publicity of things which arc fortunately to be found in abundance in the British Isles. ' ' ] "Great Britain is a country wlierc trade and industry prosper.. It is a peaceful, peace-loving country,- whose people are good-humoured and sportsmanlike, tolerant, and hospitable.'' Turning to the Earl of Derby, president of the assoiiation, his Royal Highness said: . "I cannot think of a man who represents more worthily than you do the qualities of this country. I think .that you epitomise British qualities at the highest—were it not for the fact that the dictionary tells me that 'epitome' means 'a representation hi a miniature. " (Laughter.) THE ROYAL INTEREST. Lord Derby, replying, said that'our forefathers preferred port in a hogshead to port in a bottle, and that he sincerely hoped that the association would prefer a hogshead of himself to the mere contents of a bottle. Emphasising the importance of-the work of the Royal family towards the-prosperity of Britain, Lord Derby said: "Royal interest has done much lor us, and has helped us greatly to extend. I should like to be able to put it into pounds, shillings, and pence what Royal interest had done for us and for all national works generally." Turning to the Duke of Kent, Lord Derby continued: "I think that your slogan, 'Trade Follows the Tourist,' is the most excellent thing we have heard for a long time. Also 'A World that Travels is a World at Peace,' because if one can meet a man face to face one can argue, every international question out." : Captain .Euan Wallace, M.P., secretary, Department of Overseas Trade, said that it was important to give the overseas visitor a good welcome. "Let us be frank," he added. "You have had a much better reception abroad I than the foreigner has had here. From j the Customs official—that much I maligned official—onwards we must try to improve in this respect." Lord Snell, who proposed the health of the chairman, said, in laughing reference to the Duke of Kent's remarks on Lord Derby's stature, that he personally was a "lean fellow" and "Cassius-like," and that perhaps this accorded well with his type of politics. He only hoped that Lord Derby, with his usual indefatigable energy and industry in a good cause, would not succeed in diverting absolutely all the tourist traffic to his own county at the expense of the rest of Britain.