TOURIST TRAFFIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21084, 9 July 1938, Page 8

TOURIST TRAFFIC

Record Y ear Expected Australian Visitor’s Views “Conditions here are similar to those in Australia—business is stable and ■ brisk; there is ample evidence of proi gross to keep abreast of overseas . development, and enquiries show’ an ; increasing desire to go and see for themselves how people are’ living and • working in othe# countries,” said Mr W. J. H. Wilcox, of Australian National i Travel, who is making a tour of the i South Island, and who is staying on | in Timaru for the last day of the win- | ter show, to a representative of "The I Timaru Herald.” • "Travel was once regarded as a ! luxury. Then its educational value I was realised. Now it is acknowledged as the finest background for trade.” i said Mr Wilcox. "And behind each motive the same thrill and pleasure of ! discovering new lands, meeting new i people, and seeing new methods exists.” , The speaker said that he had been | as far south as the Bluff, and had not | one dull moment. The tourist possibi ilities in New Zealand seemed unlimit- | ed. with sparkling bays on one side and i snow-gathering mountains making : another side of the glorious picture j and what he had heard about the . beauty and grandcm’ hidden behind , the mountains had determined him to return as soon as he could. Travelling i had been comfortable and accommoda- ■ lion of a very high standard. “You ■ have no need to be modest in your j advertising for the centenary celebra- ■ tions, for nature alone has provided j enough to hold Visitors in New’ Zea- • land for many months,” said Mr . Wilcox. “It should be a bumper tourist Flow Should Increase ' Mr Wilcox expects the flow of tourists 'to increase both to and from Australia ; because of the New Zealand centenary. Australians would make friends hers i during their stay and would invite I them t- visit their countn’. Holidaying New Zealanders would then induce more Australians to return here later , and the interchange between the ! Dominion and the Commonwealth [ would automatically grow bigger each I year. "The cost of living is higher here than in Australia, but the temperature to-day was decidedly lower,” Mr Wilcox added. "That is one reason why I expect more people, particularly those i" the South Island to visit Australia in the next lew months. In Queensland and the north of New South Wales they arc still surfing and sunbathing and it is the dry season, too, in the fa” north. South and West Australia will be enjoying mild weather and e vercoat manufacturers will still be moaning.” "Australia cannot beat the hospitality I have enjoyed during my stay in New Zealand but, as your contingent which came to Sydney for the last Anzac Day gathering will say, we can equal it,” concluded Mr Wilcox.