AMERICAN TOURISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 6

AMERICAN TOURISTS

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND COMBINED EFFORT ADVOCATED (Speciaj to Daily Times) - WELLINGTON, June 26.. The necessity for a combined effort on the part of New'-Zealand and Australia in the matter of encouraging tourist traffic from abroad was. stressed by Mr A. H. O'Connor, representative in America and .Canada for the Australian National Travel Association, in an interview to-day on his arrival by the Maunganui from San Francisco. .' Mr O'Connor said he had. been in America for the past three years and he was returning to Australia partly on a 'holiday visit and partly to discuss with the Board'of Directors of the association the question of future policy. During the past three years he bad travelled through practically every State in America and all over Canada endeavouring to. secure publicity for Australia. In addition to talks to clubs and over the air and arranging for the American press to be supplied with weekly releases of Australian news, he conducted an annual advertising campaign in the national- magazines. Advertising had resulted in many thousands of inquiries regarding tours. Many of the inquiries were from people who were considering settling in Australia. . • AMERICAN TRADE RECOVERY. Mr O'Connor said that the extent of the depression in America was not realised in New Zealand and Australia. There were not many countries in the world that had had a'worse time than, the United States during the past two years. The depression of business and' public spirit was at the lowest ebb at the time of the Presidential elections, but the advent of President Roosevelt had caused, an amazing uplift of public feeling. During this year confidence had returned to a degree he had not! thought possible. This was something that no other President had been able to achieve. Mr Roosevelt had the good fortune to have a winning smile, a ready tongue, and attractive voice. He was an excellent speaker over the air, was extraordinarily popular, and was heard by wireless in nearly every home. Confidence had returned to the people and a definite business uplift was apparent. • THE URGE TO TRAVEL. This uplift, Mr O'Connor continued, would result in a resumption of the tourist business. The desire on the part of Americans to travel had been dammed up for three years, but now the-dam was beginning to burst. There were still large numbers of Americans, and these people were starting out to travel, and he felt sure that New Zealand and Australia would reap a substantial benefit. Everybody who visited the South Seas, Australia, and. New Zealand, was filled with enthusiasm over what was to be seen. . . ;:',-'■.!■- . .

Mr O'Connor said that practically sinqe the beginning of his stay in the United States he had recognised the advisability of united action on the part of New Zealand and Australia to attract tourists. There was a common interest in that respect and practically every American tourist wanted to see the two countries. Miss Bathie Stuart was; doing splendid publicity work for New Zealand. During his stay in New Zealand, said Mr O'Connor, he proposed to discuss the question of united action with representatives of the tourist interests in the. Dominion. Every mail contained inquiries from prospective tourists about, New Zealand's attractions. .... There was a great deal of ignorance concerning the Dominion. One man had recently written to him asking what the automobile road" was like between. Auckland and Sydney, and another had asked if Australia was recoverinz from the earthquake in Napier. ; PUBLICITY METHODS. , Mr O'Connor said he made an interesting experiment before, leaving the United States. He made six radio programmes and had them electrically Tecorded, and these records»were to be broadcast from most: of the principal radio- stations in America and: Canada.';' He hoped to jzet a ' minimum of 1000 broadcasts. The records dealt with the South Seas and Australia and also touched upon New Zealand. He believed they would be the most effective' means of ' publicity yet undertaken. •■ .