PUBLICITY FOR DOMINION

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1929, Page 11

PUBLICITY FOR DOMINION

ADVERTISING THE SCENERY TOURIST TRAFFIC AN INDUSTRY. CAMPAIGN FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL. More publicity for the scenic attractions of New Zealand, including those of Taranaki, is to be imdprtaken ■ by ‘ the Government. The Hon- P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, arrived at New Plymouth on Saturday night in the course of a tour to make preliminary arrangements for an intensive campaign abroad. ■. “I look upon our tourist traffic as an important industry that deserves every encouragement,” said the Minister to a Daily News reporter. “Last year we received £1,000,090 of foreign capital from overseas*visitors and I look to the time, in the near future, when .the annual income from thin source will have risen to £7,000,000. We have established a magnificent export trade in butter and cheese, .-.nd this is responsible for bringing us a great deal of foreign capital. We had to build up that industry, both from' the producing and the selling ends, but, on the other hand, we have the goods: in the way of scenic- attractions ready made. All we have to do now is to sell them.’ - A large number of inquiries had been received from prospective American visitors/ continued Mr. de la Perrelle. They , wanted sight-seeing and fishing. He intended to call an early conference of the heads of departments with the idea of conducting a vigorous campaign in Australia and throughout' New Zealand. “■ ~ As a matter of fact, 'the work had already been started in the Commonwealth; 1 He hoped Australian tourists would come on the Melbourne-Bluff pas- • senger steamers and tour through the' Dominion from the south. .The Minister said he. realised the ’

great importance of publicity in. increasing the volume of tourist traffic?/. He had been impressed with the desire • ' .' of hotel proprietors to cater in the best manner for visitors from America and other countries. ' “We are getting out a new publication for overseas distribution, and it will easily eclipse any previous effort of that kind,” said Mr. de la Perrelle. ’ “I have already arranged with Mr. A. H. Messenger, publicity officer, to have a considerable number of views taken in New Plymouth and its environments for this publication. You have a.beautiful mountain and a beautiful park, and both of them will be photographed. When I return to Wellington I shall give Mr. Messenger my impressions.” Mr. de ia Perrelle said he desired to repeat what. he had said before, that he had been struck by the fine citizenship of the residents of New Plymouth, all of whom seemed to be only too anxious to improve the attractions of, the place and to assist in every way possible to give them publicity. While in New Plymouth he. intended to' 'tionfer with those particularly interested in order that he might receive their suggestions; Yesterday morning Mr. de la Perrelle visited Pukekura Park and other scenic attractions .about the town. In the afternoon he motored to the mounta 1 /!. He will leave by car for Wellington this morning.