TOURIST INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22612, 28 December 1936, Page 6

TOURIST INDUSTRY

VALUE TO TEADE DUKE OF KENT'S SLOGAN KEEPING BRITAIN ON MAP [from OUR OWN" correspondent] LONDON, Dec. 2 The Duke of Kent lias suggested a new slogan—Trade Follows Tourists. " I cannot," he said, speaking at the dinner of the Travel and Industrial Development Association of Great Britain and Ireland, "compete with tlie wonderful rhyming slogans of the King. However, 1' would like to give Britain this slogan—Trade Follows Tourists. If that is a slogan, I am afraid that it assumes the homely form of prose, but nt least it enables you to stress an important truth " The British Isles does not occupy a very large place on the map, but it occupies a very important one," His Royal Highness added. " It is, however, very necessary to keep our country before the eyes of the rest of the world; it is even more necessary that tho world should have a true appreciation of us as a country. Record Year Certain " The figures regarding the numbers of visitors to this country have increased year by year, and it is already certain that 1036 will be a record year. I understand that economists term the expenditure of visitors from abroad an 'invisible export.' This year the value of this 'invisible export' will probably exceed £30,000,000—-a very important contribution to our oversea trade. "I should like' to quote Professor Ogilvie in saying that 'The world thai; travels is likely to be a world at peace.' This association believes that over and above the cash basis of tourism there is the spiritual value of any effort to attract visitors and trade to this country. A Peace-loving Country " While it would be foolish to pretend that the world at present is in a harmonious state, it is always possible to take a hopeful view. This association is wise in striking a cheerful note in its publicity of things which are fortunately to be found in abundance in the British Isles. Great Britain is a country where trade and industry prosper. It is a peaceful, peace-loving country, whose people are good-humoured and sportsmanlike, tolerant and hospitable." Turning to the Earl of Derby, president of the association, His Royal Highness said: "I cannot thipk of a man who,represents more worthily than you do the qualities of this country. I think that you epitomise British qualities at the highest—were it not for the fact that the dictionary tells me that 'epitome' means 'a representation in a miniature.' " (Laughter.) Valued Royal Interest

Lord Derby, replying, said that their forefathers had preferred port in a hogshead to port in a bottle, and that he sincerely hoped that the association ■would prefer a hogshead of himself to the mere contents of a bottle. Emphasising the importance of the work of the Royal Family toward the prosperity of Britain, he added: " Royal-' interest has done much for ns and has helped us greatly to extend. I should like to be able to put it into pounds, shillings and pence what Royal interest has done for us and for all national works generally."