TOURISTS’ POINT OF VIEW

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1934, Page 9

TOURISTS’ POINT OF VIEW

ATTRACTIONS OF DOMINION. VISITORS’ NEEDS WELL MET. “I have returned with the highest opinion of New Zealand’s climate, attractions and tourist facilities. The Dominion is a country that one can honestly recommend to the American. peopie as a place for an ideal holiday,” said Mr. J. E. Ryan, of San Francisco, general passenger manager for the Oceanic Steamship Company, after a 10 days ’motor trip through the North Island with Mr. H. E. Pippin, of Sydney, the company’s passenger traffic manager for Australia and New Zealand. In the course of their trip the two officials visited the Waitomo Caves, the Chateau and Tokaanu, going on-to Wellington by way of Taihape and Palmerston North. On the return journey they called at Napier, Taupo and Wairakei, spending some days at Rotorua and seeing all the principal thermal sights. ✓ Mr. Ryan said he was more than satM isfied with the hotel accommodation everywhere, on the trip. '“lt is a fallacy to suppose that all Americans demand the height of luxury,” he added. “The great majority of them are accustomed to the same standard of comfort as that of your tourist hotels. Considering the population of the country and the present volume of tourist traffic, New Zealand hotels are quite reasonably up to date. AMERICANS AND HOTELS. “The typical American visitor really does not expect an unlimited number of bathrooms and so forth. So long as a hotel is well warmed in cool weather, the food is good and the beds are comfortable, he is quite content, It would be absurd to expect hotel proprietors to provide accommodation far ahead of actual requirements. We are quite convinced that they realise what is wanted and as soon as the traffic warrants they will do all. that is needed to cater for \ the extra business. “Exactly the same applies to your ' roads and transport. I found the roads very good indeed for a country with a population of less than 1,600,000. Some of them certainly are rougher than in thickly-settled districts of the United States, but from what has been done we are sure that those who are in charge will keep pace with the country’s needs. “Even without seeing the South Island I am convinced that New Zealand has attractions to suit Americans of all tastes,” Mr. Ryan continued. “She has much to offer the sportsman, particularly the angler. For the sightseer there is a wonderful variety of scenery and climate. I do not think New Zealanders realise that America covers a very wide range geographically and that people from different regions differ more in habits, speech and outlook than, say,' Englishmen, Australians and New Zealanders. ■ This country has something to offer all of them. 1 DIFFERING REQUIREMENTS. “A man from Texas may go straight to the southern mountains and put in his whole stay there; a tourist from Oregon may not want to go beyond Auckland and Rotorua, but both will thoroughly enjoy themselves. On the experience gained already it was certain that the American tourist ' traffic, when properly developed, would cover at least seven months of the year, probably reaching its peak in winter. This might seem strange, but the explanation was simple. American tourists coming to New Zealand might be divided into two classes, well-to-do people coming south to escape the winter, and peo- ; pie of smaller means spending a summer holiday of six weeks or more. The W latter class tended to be the larger. ' “How the American tourist traffic develops will large depend on how the people of New Zealand play their part, concluded Mr. Ryan. “If. Americans feel happy and at home here they will come, in larger and larger numbers.