TOURISTS FOR TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 4

TOURISTS FOR TARANAKI

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY DEPARTMENTAL OFFICER EXPLAINS PROBABLE VISIT NEXT MONTH. TRAVELLERS BY STRATHNAVER. / 1 The present agitation concerning the lack of overseas tourists in Taranaki the subject of comment to a Daily News representative yesterday by Mr. J. A. Malcolm, one of the officers of the Government Tourist and Publicity Department, who was in New Plymouth. Mr. Malcolm, who was one of the two officers of the department who came over from Australia on the Strathaird, explained the many difficulties with which they were facet! in arranging itineraries for the tourists in New Zealand, the chief of which were the extremely limited duration of the vessel’s stay in New Zealand waters and the determination of the tourists to visit the thermal regions, irrespective of what other alternatives were offered.

The department, said Mr. Malcolm, was not prejudiced in favour of any particular resort. Its object was to bring as many tourists as possible to the Dominion, to keep them here as long as it could, and to send them away satisfied with what they had seen. Before the tours commenced the travellers were informed of all the principal attractions New Zealand had to offer, and Taranaki and Mt. Egmont were not forgotten, but the wishes of the visitors themselves, the amount of money they wished to spend and the time available were all important factors. In the case of the Strathaird there was not sufficient time to bring parties to Taranaki and take them to Mt, Egmont after they had visited the thermal regions.

However, added Mr. Malcolm, in connection with the forthcoming visit of the luxury liner Strathnaver, which was due at Auckland on December 21 or 22, a definite effort was being made to bring a party overland to Wellington via Waitomo Caves and Taranaki. The projected itinerary included visits to Fukekura Park, New Plymouth, and Mt. Egmont. The purpose of Mr. Malcolm’s visit to New Plymouth yesterday was to make suitable arrangements for the visit, including accommodation.