TOURIST PROSPECTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 12

TOURIST PROSPECTS.

RECORD SEASON EXPECTED. VISITORS FROM OVERSEAS, TROUBLES IN SMALL CENTRES, ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM. The publicity given New Zealand at the Wembley Exhibition and the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition to be opened at Dunedin next month are factors which point to a record tourist season. It is anticipated that New Zealanders will make full use of their holidays and spend them away from their home towns, while the number of visitors from .overseas should be greater than last year. Until the last three weeks Aucklanders seemed to be apathetic about the exhibition at Dunedin, but now there is a steady flow of inquiries at the Government Tourist Bureau for travelling accommodation, etc. Milford Sounds, Mount Cook and the west 'coast of the South Island will benefit, as quite a number have expressed their intention of taking in these resorts on their way South. "Every year New Zealanders are showing a greater appreciation of their own tourist resorts," stated Mr. A. E. Wilson, manager of the Government Tourist Department, Auckland, yesterday. "1 do not wish to infer that the resorts were never appreciated, but in former years they have been taken for granted by a great majority of the people. The war and visitors from overseas have had a good effect in awakening interest. When the soldiers came back they realised that the Dominion's scenic attractions had no peer and the praises of visitors have accentuated this. Consequently we find that fho people of the country are more than ever anxious to get- off the beaten track and see some of these wonders for themselves." Better Service Required. The need for better accommodation and service to make the Dominion complete as a tourist centre was stressed by Mr. Wilson. He stated that the accommodation and general service in the main centres was good and although it was improving in the "stop over" towns there remained still a considerable margin for improvement. "By service I mean general attendance," Mr. Wilson said. "In many of these small places the tired tourist is required to carry all his baggage to his room and generally make shift for himself. Often there is no hot water for the ladies and the food is not served as well as it might be. It is these details which count, especially with the visitor from overseas." He also spoke of the lack of courtesy extended to visitors in some places. "Visitors do not expect anything lavish," he said. "They merely wan£ ordinary attendance and civility and they are prepared to pay for it." Mr. Wilson cited the case of an American lady who arrived in New Zealand this month and planned an extensive tour. She was so disgusted with the general .service in some of the smaller towns that she immediately curtailed her tour and is now on her way back to the United States. . "The. overseas tourists are a valuable asset to this country," Mr. Wilson said. "For most of them time is no object and provided ih-\v are enjoying themselves they will slay afid spend money. The time will come when the people in the smaller centres will realise this and go out of their way to make the stay of the tourist enjoyable in every way." . An English family comprising a husband and wife, their child and maid, who were evidently not as particular as the American lady, spent eight months of last year touring New Zealand, and during that time spent nearly £3OOO. Deep .Sea Fishing. Deep sea fishing is certain to attract a large number of sportsmen from all parts of the world toward the end of this year and early next year. No other New Zealand attraction .has been more boomed during the past year than this sport. Attractive pamphlets have been printed and distributed in all parts of the world in large numbers and the benefit of this widespread publicity should be felt during, the corning months. "The Auckland Weekly News has done very valuable service in this direction," stated Mr. Wilson. "The Tourist Department bought up a large number of the sword fishing edition and sent them abroad. I have had appreciative letters from different parts of the world, in which sportsmen declared they would visit the Dominion this year to take part in the sport." "There are indications," continued Mr. Wilson, " that the accommodation at Russell will be improved ancjn' there is a possibility of an accommodation house jieing erected at Deep Water Cove." In the past sportsmen have many times complained of the accommodation at Deep Water Cove, which consists entirely of huts. . They stated they were unable to take their wive=> there and after a day's fishing had to return to Russell. Developing the North, Discussing the Dominion's undeveloped tourist potentialities, Mr. Wilson said the district north of Auckland .had a splendid future. With improved means of transit he believed it would become a veritable playground for the holidaymaker. The North contained bold headlands and rugged .coast, bush-clad hills sloping away to the water's edge, inland harbours of'great beauty, magnificent forest scenery, caves, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and islands. For the sportsman there was unlimited fishing and shooting. The North was also rich in historic interest.