TOURIST RESORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23014, 16 April 1938, Page 10

TOURIST RESORTS

DOMINION ATTRACTIONS praise and-criticism FAR MORE PUBLICITY NEEDED Warm praise for ihose scenic resorts in New Zealand which he had been able to visit and friendly criticism on. several matters connected with the tourist trade was expressed by Mr. E. C. van Wyk, lecturer on board the German liner Reliance, prior t& tb<? ship's departure. Mr. van Wyk spoke with the experience of a widely travelled man, having acted as lecturer for various shipping companies on nearly 100 cruises during the past 14 .years. . Mr. van Wyk said he regretted that he had been unable to visit any of the southern resorts, including Milford Sound and the Mount Cook region, but what he had seen had made him wish to visit the country again. Waitomo and Rotorua

What had particularly impressed him was the glow worm cave at Waitomo. There was nothing like it in any other country in the world. Although thermal regions were to be found in various parts of the world, Rotorua held much interest for the tourist. While New Zealand could not offer the unique charms of such countries as India, China and Egypt, it had much to interest the tourist, but far more publicity, especially in .the United States, was necessary if*Hhe tourist trade was to develpp, Mr. -van Wyk said. New Zealand had officers at Las Angeles and Toronto, but these could not hope to reach effectively the thousands of wealthy potential tourists in the eastern districts centred around New York or in the great middle-west region around Chicago. Publicity in America "All the people of the United States know of New Zealand is that it has its first Socialist Government and that Mr. Savage is the Prime Minister," Mr. van Wyk added. "Occasionally word comes through of an earthquake or of some other tragedy.'' At least one more tourist officer should be placed in the United States, he Baid. In advertising the country he considered that New Zealand should cooperate with Australia, as the two countries were so close together, although they had vastly different attractions to interest the visitor. Dining Oars Suggested ■ The provision of dining cars on the railways was another suggestion offered by Mr. van Wyk. While the variety and the quality of the food served at Frankton, for instance, was excellent and the price was remarkably cheap, tourists, especially wealthy Americans who were used to every luxury, found it inconvenient to have to leave the train to eat a meal that was hastened owing to the necessity for adhering to time-tables. . A matter which he particularly wished to comment upon, said Mr. van Wyk, was the friendliness and courfeousness of New Zealanders. Everyone seemed to want to do everything possible to make a visitor feel at home.