ATTRACTING OVERSEA TOURISTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22011, 3 May 1946, Page 2

ATTRACTING OVERSEA TOURISTS

part of Australia’s drive for post-war tourist traffic, the sug-

gestion has been made by business men of the Commonwealth that there should lie an all-round increase in the staffs and allowances of bureaux representatives overseas, particularly in London and New York. Australia is evidently alive to the advantages accruing from an influx of liberal spenders from Britain and America and it is considered that in not more than two years’ time a handsome dividend would be produced by expansion of the publicity arrangements.

The correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association in Australia, who has sent news of the publicity drive (published last night), evidently had in mind an awakening of New Zealand interest in the proposed development and the stimulation of special efforts on this side to ensure that the Dominion is not left behind in any race for tourist business. Without elaborating on the fact that New Zealand can offer a greater variety of natural attractions within a smaller compass, this country must at least make an effort to claim its fair share of the trade. There is no reason why wealthy Americans, for instance, should not be able to tour both of the southern Dominions, thereby bringing in much-needed dollars.

Although only a small proportion of American ex-servicemen will be in a position to return here in times of peace, a great many of them seem to have found Australia and New Zealand so much to their liking that the casual publicity they are able to disseminate among their people should be valuable. But this must be driven home through a skilful campaign by officialdom. Further than that, it is necessary, in many ways, that our standard of hotel and travelling accommodation should be improved. After private bousing and essential works, the construction of more big hotels on the most modern lines comes next.