TOURIST PROSPECTS BRIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 22193, 22 November 1935, Page 18

TOURIST PROSPECTS BRIGHT

50 PER GENT. INCREASE IN HALF-YEAR [Per United Press Association.] ■WELLINGTON, November-21. “ The prospects in the tourist traffic have never been brighter,” said Mr S. J. Collett, acting general manager of the Tourist Publicity Department, in an interview to-day. “ The first six months’ of the financial year have shown an increase of approximately 50 per cent, in the business done. This figure is remarkable in that the season covered included the winter months. The increase was equally evident in the business emanating from overseas, and in internal travelling by New Zealanders. The prospects for the summer and autumn are particularly bright, and the tours booked in advance already show an increase over the advance business for last year. “It is strongly anticipated there will be a valuable increase in the business from North America attributable to the appointment of a New Zealand trade and tourist commissioner at Los Angeles. Advice from him and from the commissioner at Toronto are to the effect that the special advertising undertaken by the department in these areas is bearing fruit. The British National Union, in cooperation with the department’s _ representative in London, has organised a party of approximately 25 farmers who will arrive in the Dominion late in February. So successful was the recent tour of Honolulu school teachers that inquiries have already been received with regard to a return visit next winter. Another party tour is being arranged by the Trade and Tourist Commissioner in Sydney. This is a commercial tour from Newcastle (New South Wales).