THE TOURIST BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 47, 24 August 1938, Page 10

THE TOURIST BUSINESS

During the year ended March 31 last tourist traffic in New Zealand exceeded all previous records. The number of visitors to New Zealand who could be classed as tourists, is stated in the annual report of the Department, presented to Parliament yesterday, as 19,532 compared with 17,297 for the previous year and 14.284 for 1935-36. Since 1924 the numbers have increased, according to the report, by 163 per cent. The ►value to the country, assessed on an estimate of expenditure by the visitors, of tourist traffic last year is placed at £1,200,000. This is considered a reasonably conservative figure and may be taken as indicat-

ing that the tourist business is coming to play an important part in the economy of New Zealand. Much of the growth of the traffic" thus noted may fairly be attributed to -the efforts, energy, and enterprise of the Department to which many tributes are paid publicly by satisfied visitors. Passenger-booking sales by the Department's branches and agencies overseas and within New Zealand for the year amounted to £583,847, an increase of 11 per cent, over the previous year, while during the past six years tour sales have increased by £292,432, showing the popularity of this form of service. When it is realised that New Zealand suffers inevitably, in the competition for the; tourist by different countries, from its distance from the main centres of j the world's population, these results! are exceedingly encouraging. With the expansion of transoceanic air | services, reducing the time spent en route, , further growth of tourist traffic may be expected. 1$ it is assumed that from its great natural attractions New Zealand will become more and more popular as a tourist resort in the future, the question inevitably arises whether the accommodation available in the Dominion is equal to the demand. On this vital point the Department's report makes some pertinent observations:

The definite shortage of good hotel accommodation at some of the tourist resorts during the summer months has accentuated the difficulties. The shortage of good hotel accommodation is a serious matter, and if the tourist traffic from overseas continues to increase, the difficulty of accommodating travellers will become acute. The problem at this transition stage in the development of the tourist business is to cater for what is mainly a seasonal demand at the various resorts, but some relief may be expected with the growth of all-the-year-round patronage through the institution, for example, of winter sports in suitable localities. 'In several instances, notably the present season at National Park, this has resulted in a greatly increased demand for accommodation. In spreading the scope of tourist traffic, both as to season and locality, there would appear to be still considerable room for enterprise. With a reasonably stable demand for accommodation individual enterprise in most cases might be trusted to furnish a satisfactory supply. Much might be done also by provision of facilities in the more remote , districts, with such assistance as might be deemed necessary. Tourist traffic is recognised all over the world today as worthy of encouragement.