THE TOURIST SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19924, 18 April 1928, Page 12

THE TOURIST SEASON.

NEW RECORD ANTICIPATED.

VOGUE OF MOTOR TRAVEL.

THE VALUE OF PUBLICITY-

Another holiday season is practically at an end, and tourist authorities in Auckland agree there is every possibility it will establish a new record in the number of overseas visitors. Larger numbers of Australians have spent their vacations in the Dominion, while visitors from England, the Continent, and the East have been numerous. The season has been favoured by unusually good weather.

It is the aim of the Tourist Department, Thos. Cook and Son, and other such organisations, to make the tourists happy, but complaints are inevitable, although there have been fewer this year than in past years. Accommodation was perhaps the chief ground of complaint. Wealthy visitors, particularly Americans, still demand the private sitting room and private bathroom, and in-the country resorts these facilities are as far off as ever. .

A feature of the season was the popularity of the motor-car as a means of touring the country. Many overseas visitors engaged cars for several weeks, and in this way were able to see more of ihe country. As the roads improve thi'" mode of travelling will become even more popular. Mr. J, W. Clarke, manager of the local office of the Government Tourist Department, said the Auckland returns for this season would show a considerable increase, compared with the returns for last season. The experience of the Auckland office is really the best index of the state of the tourist traffic, because the great majority of overseas visitors arrive here from overseas.

There has been little change in the popularity of the resorts, Rotorna and Wairakei holding first place. laupo, Tauranga and Mount Lgmont have found greater favour than usual, while the North Auckland district is becoming increasingly popular. Mr. Clarke is of the opinion that if North Auckland were opened up with a network of good roads it would bo one of the most popular playgrounds of the Dominion. The opening of the Waipoua State forest was responsible for attracting many visitors.

There is no cjoubt New Zealand is becoming fully alive to tho value of propaganda, and reports indicate the Dominion's publicity is reaching all parts of the world. The Government Publicity Department is now producing very attractive booklets, and a valuable contribution to this propaganda on behalf of the Dominion is provided by the Auckland Weekly News. "Not only does tho Auckland Weekly News find its way to what one might call the orthodox centres of civilisation, but' it excites interest in places off the beaten paths," said one tourist authority. "It has the unique merit of showing practically every phase of the life of the Dominion in one issue, so that each copy is a complete piece of propaganda."

Now that this season is nearly over tourist authorities -are anticipating the next. It is likely that one of the Cunard tourist steamers will include New Zealand jn . a Pacific Eastern itinerary.