TOURIST TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27404, 1 June 1950, Page 6

TOURIST TRADE

§ Direct Shipping Is | Essential ' VIEW OF AMERICANS fpA WELLINGTON, May 31. The dollar tourist trade to New Zealand will not reach its peak until a direct passenger shipping service to California is restored, according to three American tourist experts now visiting New Zealand to survey the prospects here. They are Mr C. A. 'Lambourne, of Bakersfield, California; Mr Malcolm La Prade, of Thomas Cook ' dnd Son, New York; and Mr L. Campbell Trelkeld, of Glendale, near Los • Angeles. They believe .that a direct -shipping service combined with the competitive fares they expect among trans-Pacific air services will be the first requirement for selling New Zealand as a destination to their customers. Since they arrived in New Zealand a week ago, most of their time has been spent on the West Coast, where they encountered last week’s floods. A Mr La Prade described the scenery ‘-as “Switzerland, Norway, the Vale of Kashmir, and the Italian lakes all rolled into one.” He finds the hotel food surprisingly good, but suggests that Americans like to find a bathroom and-shower with every hotel bedroom. Reading lights over the beds and lights over.the bathroom mirrors would also be welcome. Mr Lambourne stressed the need for persistent publicity for New Zealand •in America. American tourist agencies considering sending parties to New Zealand are faced with difficulty in arranging hotel bookings for 20 to 25 people at once in the smaller towns. “ Night life is always desirable,” said the visitors, discussing what American tourists like to find. Mr La Prade added: “ It is not peculiar to American tourists. I have never heard New Zealand or Australian tourists in New York criticising the town for too much night life. All tourists like night life, even New Zealanders touring New Zealand. The Americans will make thdsr own night life, anyway, unless you lock them up.”