TOURIST TRAFFIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 19

TOURIST TRAFFIC

WHAT STATISTICS REVEAL By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, November 4 “The South Island is not receiving its rightful share,” stated the report presented to the annual conference of the South Island Travel Association by its director (Mr J. J. W. Pollard), this morning. Of 19,532 tourists, who visited the Dominion last season it was estimated that only 5000 came to the South Island. The Mayor of Dunedin, Mr A. H. Allen, presided. Figures from the Tourist Department’s report were quoted, giving the number of tourists in New Zealand for the past three seasons as follows: 1935-36, 14,284; 1936-37, 17,297; 1937-38, 19,532. These all represented Increases on pre-depression returns, but it had to be noted that at least 6,500 came on cruise ships, and stayed only a few days. Virtually none of those visitors came to the South Island. The estimates suggested that the total number of overseas tourists to the South Island last year was about 5,000, slightly more than a quarter of the total. The Tourist Department estimated the money brought by visitors at £1,200,000.