TOURIST TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 57, 5 September 1945, Page 6

TOURIST TRAFFIC

VALUE TO DOMINION

"The amount of money expended in any country by visitors ranks as an invisible export—the export of scenic and other attractions," states the annual report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts and Publicity, discussing the work of the tourist development committee of the Organisation for National Development. "In the 1938-39 season more than 22,000 tourists visited this Dominion, and it is estimated that the amount spent by them on hotel accommodation, transport, and the many services directly associated with the tourist industry amounted to £1,500,000 to £2,000,000," the report, continues. "Tourists' expenditure benefits all sections of the community, directly or indirectly—some immediately, others ultimately. Tourists also contribute to the national revenue in other ways— by indirect taxation and by the use of Government services, and, moreover, the costs incurred in providing the necessary services for overseas visitors also benefit many local businesses and industries and help to provide amenities for the New Zealander to see his own country." The report deals with the preparation that has been made for an expansion of toui-ist traffic to the Dominion, prospects for which are considered to be brighter than ever before, mainly because of speedy, comfortable air travel bringing New Zealand within a few days of the world's great population centres.