RECORD SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1939, Page 10

RECORD SEASON

VISITORS TO DOMINION

TOTAL OVER 20,000

DEPARTMENT'S YEAR

"Once again it is pleasing to be able to announce yet another record year's working. Despite many adverse circumstances, notably the fear of European war and the drought and bush fires in Australia, new high levels were reached both in the number of visitors to the Dominion and also in" the Department's total sales. The former figure is 21,762, including 8708 who travelled by cruise ship (the first time that over 20,000 tourists have visited New Zealand in any one year), while the total sales amounted to £584,787," states the annual report of jthe Department of Tourist and Health | Resorts and Publicity for the year ended March 31,1939, which was tabled in the House of Representatives yeseri day.

"No doubt one of the main causes of the increase in total value of sales is the fact that there is a larger amount of money in circulation within the Dominion itself," says the • report. "Though separate statistics are not kept, all the Government bureaux and sub-agents report an increase in the number of sales to New Zealanders travelling within ■ the country, while more and more New Zealanders are availing themselves of the accommodation at the hotels conducted by the Department. - This is very gratifying and pays a tribute to the successful advertising campaign carried on by the Department, as well as to the satisfactory management of the hotels. The comparatively large amount spent on overseas publicity has also borne fruit, as shown by the above table, there being an increase over the last record period of 11.4 per cent, in the number of overseas visitors. While it is impossible to state definitely the amount of money spent in the Dominion by tourists annually it is estimated that during the past year New Zealand benefited by approximately £1,500,000. VALUABLE CO-OPERATION. j "All overseas officers of the Depart- j ment make a point of keeping in close contact with travel agencies; indeed,] the close co-operation between themi has a considerable bearing on the in- j crease in overseas sales. The up-to- j date and comprehensive printed itineraries supplied to the agents are much appreciated, and from information received no other country gives so much useful assistance. Results show that this co-operationvis most valuable. Much thought and attention is now being devoted to encouraging travel to New Zealand in what may be called the 'off season.' Ship and hotel accommodation is difficult to obtain during the summer period, and hotel proprietors would welcome increased numbers of visitors during the winter. An increase in this traffic would encourage them to extend premises and services, and so lead to more accommodation being available when most needed.

"The shortage of accommodation at all resorts has been mentioned before, and attention requires to be drawn again to this matter, which is becoming acute. Credit is given to several hotel proprietors at various places who have already increased and improved their premises. The shortage of high standard accommodation is particularly noticeable at one of the chief ports of arrival."

The report details the publicity work carried on abroad and the resultant excellent effect on tourist traffic to the Dominion.