VALUABLE ASSET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 227, 24 August 1938, Page 8

VALUABLE ASSET

DOMINION’S TOURIST TRADE. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. (By Telegraph —Special to. Standard.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 24 Tourist traffic was .worth £1,200,000 to New Zealand last year. This is the Tourist Department s estimate, based on the large volume of passenger booking it transacts. The general improvement rtt travel facilities to and within the Dominion, together with a progressive publicity policy during recent years, has had an appreciable effect in developing the industry, and it is significant that the number of tourists visiting this country during the year exceeds the number for the year 1924 by 163 per cent., the number of tourists from overseas being 19,532—an increase of 13 per cent, over the previous year._ , _ Australia, which provided 14,002 ot our visitors, is by far the largest contributor, owing to its geographical location, trade relationship, and the fact that the peoples of both countries have similar tastes and customs. Furthermore, says the report, travelpromotion work in Australia has been carried out over a long period of yeurs, whereas the department s activities in other countries have been somewhat curtailed owing to of representation and funds for publicity work, but during recent years this detect has been largely remedied. _ It is_ anticipated that considerable benefits will accrue from these efforts in the near future. '

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS. The rapid increase in travel business in New Zealand during the past few years-,has- made the work of planning tours much more difficult, the repot t states. A definite shortage of good hotel accommodation at some tourist resorts during the summer months has accentuated the difficulties. “The shortage of good hotel accommodation in New Zealand is a very serious matter and if tourist traffic from overseas continues to increase the difficulty of accommodating travellers will become acute,” the report adds. “During the year the department provided additional accommodation at Lakes Waikaremoana and Te Anau, and it is hoped that many more of the hotel proprietors throughout the Dominion, will he able to extend their premises in the near future. .Some have already done so and others are planning additions and improvements, and the department appreciates their help. It is only fair to mention here, however, that the problem of providing travellers with accommodation during certain periods of the year is not confined to New Zealand alone, as owing to the widespread travel movement hotels in seyeral other countries are experiencing similar difficulties m catering for tourists desiring transient stop-over facilities and in providing accommodation for their regular guests.” ■