ATTRACTING TOURISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 16

ATTRACTING TOURISTS.

Sir, —The published report of the New Zealand Tourist League's activities denotes that certain business men of Auckland are desirous to have an increased tourist traffic to New Zealand. This is a laudable expectation when one takes into account the many tourist attractions Nature has given to this country. But it is very obvious to all who travel through New Zealand that man has not made many lexpert preparations to receive paying guests in a suitable manner, especially if: the tourist traffic is expected to become a national asset. Only in isolated instances do hotels offer suitable accommodation in conjunction with comfortable transport facilities. Preparation also needs to be niado in catering for the leisure hours of tourists after the strenuous work of continual travel. The field of preparation is a matter of spring cleaning, rebuilding and highways construction, which certainly will entail much work and considerable capital. Other countries have shown this to bo a lucrative method of creating business, The league suggests an enthusiastic campaign, which would servo to perpetuate the adverse criticism from tourists who are often enticed to New Zealand under misapprehensions, and therefore go away disappointed. It is a certainty that when this Dominion becomes a fit link for the great chain of tourist resorts there are shipping companies capable of greatly assisting in the exploitation of New Zealand. Tho shopping em poriums of Auckland would benefit by tho extra spending money which will bo In-ought into tho city from overseas. So it appears that the onus is on New Zealanders to supply some essential facilities prior to spending too much money overseas. Tho best and most practical publicity agents for New Zealand are home-ward-bound, satisfied tourists, bearing pleasant memories of their sojourn in Ao-tea-roa. The Courier.