THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14214, 10 November 1909, Page 8

THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON.

HEAVY BOOKINGS.

Indications are that what is known as the overseas tourist traffic from New Zealand, that is, the flow of New Zealanders to other countries, will be considerable this season. The time most favoured by New Zealanders who have opportunities of travelling is the end of summer, for by leaving the Dominion at that ; time they may chance to find summer in the Old Country when they reach there. The bookings from New Zealand for the months of February, March, and April are'described by Mr. R. Angus, manager for Messrs. Thos. Cook and Sons, as heavy on all routes, via Suez, via Cape Horn, and via China and Japan. The best of the accommodation on the P. and 0. boats which', will take passengers from Auckland has already been . taken up. ••'.-'.:' "•■■. ■ '■■■/.' The internal tourist > traffic cannot be forecasted with any degree of certainty,' but there is every reason to anticipate that it will be large. The tourist traffic is very slack in the-South Island at present, but in the North .Island a number of tourists are to be found, chiefly at fishing resorts. The Rotorua season" begins early, and an increasing number of visitors will be wending their way thither from now onwards.. It will, however, be the end of the year before there is any pronounced influx from overseas, and the bulk of Australian visitors reserve their trip till the New Year. The extension of the running of the P. fend 0. boats is expected to popularise the' New Zealand trip amongst Australians. ~ An improvement has been effected in one of the South Island itineraries by the establishment of a motor service between Lumsden and Lakes Tc Anau and Manapouri. One feature of the tourist traffic to New Zealand recently has been the absence of Americans, and Mr. Angus attributes this to the suspension of the service to San Francisco, formerly provided by the Oceanic Steamship Company. It is now a matter of some uncertainty going between New Zealand and America. The Union Steam Ship Company connects with the Canadian and Australian line from Sydney to Vancouver and Suva, but coming from Vancouver the tourist has to wait ten days at Fiji for the New Zealand connection. The result is that he generally goes on to Australia. Mr. ' Angus considers that if the connection were prompter more American visitors would-be seen in* New Zealand.-