TOURIST TRAFFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21990, 22 December 1934, Page 14

TOURIST TRAFFIC

AUSTRALIAN VISITORS LARGE INCREASE SHOWN ' GOOD PUBLICITY WORK Reference to the large increase in business secured in Australia by the New Zealand tourist bureaux in Sydney and Melbourne was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. l'». Masters*- following his return from Airstralia this week. In the year 1932-33, he said, the amount of business donrs was three times in exctjss of that in 1928-29. "I am afraid it is not realised by the public of New Zealand what important work the Department of Tourist and Publicity and Industries and Commerce is doing for the Dominion, both within and without New Zealand," the Minister* said. "Nor is it understood* that practically every department of State in New Zealand utilises the services of our oversea officers in Australia." While there were large numbers of Australians who would some time or other go to New Zealand, it must be remembered that as long as shipping fares were higher relatively than, say, to Tasmania, the proportion of the population which had the time and money to enjoy a holiday in the Dominion would be limited to a comparatively small percentage of the total population. Nevertheless, the business was growing and the present season pointed to being a record, in spite of counter-attractions at the Melbourne Centenary celebrations, and Royal celebrations in all the States of Aug. tralia. Location of Offices The Minister said vast improvements had taken place in the location of the New Zealand tourist and trade bureaux in Sydney and Melbourne. The headquarters of the New Zealand organisation in Sydney was in the "commercial dress circle of the Commonwealth," right opposite the General Post Office, in Martin Place. The Melbourne office was in Collins House, the financial, shipping and trading centre of Collins Street. Every possible avenue was utilised by the department to bring New Zealand under notice, and it could be said without contradiction ! that New Zealand was becoming well and favourably known throughout Au&tralia. Careful Investigations Most careful investigation had been. made by the Tourist and Trade Commissioner of the various phases of tourist development, both from a practical and psychological point of view, and analyses of a most interesting nature had been made. the probable and possible prospective tourists, their percentage of the population, their average length of holiday, their capacity to pay, and their influence on their families and friends. To meet all classes of tourists various methods of handling clients and of inducing them to buy teurs had been introduced. Great efforts had also been made to make Australians realise that New Zealand was not far away, and that even folk with only a fortnight's holiday should visit the Dominion.