FEWER TOURISTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 203, 29 July 1941, Page 4

FEWER TOURISTS.

One effect of the war upon this country has been the fewer number of tourists to visit these shores. * For the year ended March 31 last overseas visitors were little more than half the number in the previous period, 3800 against 0891, whilst in 1938-39 the record figure of 21,762 was attained. Facilities for travelling have been greatly restricted by the war, while it) times of stress and danger very few people care to go far from their homes. Until the outbreak of war each summer saw the arrival here of quite a number of tourist liners, a form of travel that was expanding considerably. For instance, in 1935-36 4357 people came to New Zealand in this manner, and by 1938-39 the total had increased to 8708. In the next twelve months, with war disrupting the nations and shipping required for its prosecution, there was a sharp drop to 559. New Zealand’s efforts to build up a large tourist traffic have received a severe check which should not last much longer than the,.war when people will desire (o travel again. One effect has been to divert residents in India, Malaya, and China to the Dominion whose furlough cannot be spent in (lie Homeland. Those who. came here helped to offset the loss of overseas visitors from elsewhere. Tourist traffic is always of considerable value to a country and it is a form of invisible export that materially helps. Continental countries bear witness to this fact in normal times.