TOURIST TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27277, 31 December 1949, Page 4

TOURIST TRADE

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD INCREASED DOLLAR EARNINGS SOUGHT Immediately on his return from the conference of Commonwealth Ministers at Colombo, the Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts. Mr Doidge, intends to hold a conference, probably at the Chateau Tongariro, of all those interested in means of expanding New Zealand’s dollar-earning tourist trade. “In New Zealand we badly need dollars—we need at least 30,000,000 dollars —to meet average yearly commitments in the United States,” said Mr Doidge. ‘‘ln common with other Commonwealth countries we are pledged to cut our claim on the dollar pool by 25 per cent. Needing dollars, we face the problem of how to earn them.” Those invited to attend the conference at the Chateau Tongariro would include representatives of the chief hotel groups, principals of travel agencies, representatives of the main shipping lines, road transport companies, and the railways. The head of the Tourist Department. Mr L. J. Schmitt, was now engaged in making preliminary arrangements for the conference, and the Minister was confident that the outcome would be a plan which would provide a real impetus for a great potential dollarearning industry. “In New Zealand we are missing a golden opportunity,” Mr Doidge continued. “There is one way of earning dollars into which the question of tariffs and import licences does not enter. We possess one of the greatest dollar-earning magnets in the world. I refer, of course, to the attractions we can offer tourists. Nowhere is there a more fascinating country to visit than ours. “ Reports from the United States and Canada indicate that there will be a big revival of Pacific traffic at the end of 1950. Already airline and steamship companies, foreseeing a renewed trend towards the South Pacific, are actively promoting forward business,” said Mr Doidge.