ENCOURAGING TOURISTS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

ENCOURAGING TOURISTS

COMBINATION OF INTERESTS. CAMPAIGN OF. ACTIVITY. A forward move.in exploiting- the tourist traffic of New- Zealand has been taken by a number of those directly engaged in catering for tourists, who have decided to combine more closely. As a result of a recent, conference in Wellington, an organisation < called the New Zealand Travel Association has been formed, comprising more particularly those interested in' the hotel, shipping, service-car and general commercial activities. Provision, has been made also for the linking-up of other groups, such as progress leagues, chambers of commerce, tourist leagues, local bodies, business firms and individuals. •

The provisional committee of the association has appointed Mr. George M. Fowlds, president of the New Zealand Tourist League, Auckland, to act as organising secretary. He will tour the ■Dominion and bring the new movement to the attention of those concerned. A further. gathering will be held in Wellington at the end of August, when rules will be submitted, a permanent executive elected, and a programme adopted.

This movement comes at a time when added efforts are .being made in other parts of the world to encourage tourist traffic. An advanced step was taken in Britain when, on June 11, the. Local Authorities (Publicity) Bill became law. This bill, which was supported by all political parties without a dissentient voice, is said to mark, officially, at least, a complete revolution in the national outlook. The Act empowers local authorities to contribute each year to an “approved organisation”—the Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland —the proceeds of a maximum halfpenny rate for the purpose of collating and disseminating abroad information upon all aspects of British national life. In short, it empowers direct commercial and co-operative advertising, on a national scale, to attract foreign visitors. Although it was not until last month that local bodies in Britain were empowered to contribute to the British association, the association itself was founded in December, 1928, since when it is said to have thoroughly justified its existence. One effect of its work has been an annual increase of 5000 in the number of foreign visitors to Britain. In 1930 a total of 246,000 tourists visited Britain, their expenditure being estimated at £10,000,000. It is felt by those responsible for the formation of the New Zealand Travel Association that as far as this Dominion

is concerned there has been latterly insufficient co-operation between the parties directly engaged in catering for the comfort, transport and entertainment of tourists. Not only is it hoped to overcome this, but it is hoped also that .close .collaboration will be effected with the State departments interested, such as the Railways and Tourist Departments'. ■

Further reasons • for banding together are the desire to educate public opinion to the. value of the tourist business to New Zealand, and the hope of influencing Parliament to make necessary adequate appropriations to satisfactorily advertise' the Dominion’s attractions and grants'to equip the national tourist resorts. The action being taken is in line with what has been . done in Australia, where a national travel association has been formed.

Figures have been compiled by the association to show that the internal tourist traffic of the United States is estimated to be worth £600,000,000 a year,-while 500,000 Americans go overseas and spend £150,000,00. Canada’s tourist income has increased in the last six years from £28,000,000 to £60,000,000. France and Italy receive £120,000,000 and £40,000,000 respectively in this way, while Switzerland receives £20,000,000 and Germany £60,000,000. Australia, with 26,000 visitors, receives . £2,000,000, and New Zealand, with 9500 .tourists, is estimated to receive £825,000 a year.