ATTRACTING TOURISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 6

ATTRACTING TOURISTS

A DOMINION EFFORT NEW TRAVEL ASSOCIATION. FORMATION AT WELLINGTON. In an effort to develop further the tourist traffic of the Dominion it was decided at an informal conference in Wellington last week to form a New Zealand Travel Association to assist the Government in its endeavours t< encourage oversea visitors. The policy of the Association was drafted and a provisional executive was set up, representative of shipping, accommodation, motoi transport, sporting and general business interests. A further meeting, to which the coinmitte will report later with a set of rules, scheme of finance, etc., is to be held within the next three months. Ln the meantime, steps are to be taken to enrol members and obtain further financial support of which satisfactory promises were made at the gathering. " Mr A. P. Harper was appointed chairman, and Air Geo. AL Fowlds, secretary. The provisional executive is as follows:—Mr' E. Boulton, manager, United Service Hotel, Christchurch; Air 1\ Coyle, secretary. National Council of Licensed Trade of N.Z.. Wei lington; Air Ernest IDavis, director, Hancock and Co., Ltd., Auckland; Mr G. Finn, president, N.Z. Alanufactu ers’ Association, Auckland; Mr P. Graham, proprietor, Glacier Hotel, Waiho, Westland; Air \V. Jones, editor. Southland News, Invercargill; Air T. B. Mabin, manager, N.Z. Deep Sea Angling Club, Russell; Air D. McCarthy, manager, Hawke’s Bay Motors Ltd., Napier; Air D. J. AlcGowan, past president, Chamber of Commerce, Wellington; Air J. Newman, manager, Newman Bros. Ltd., Nelson; Mr A. A. Paapc, manager. Grand Hotel, Dunedin; Air W. B. Steel, secretary, Otago Expansion League. Dunedin; Mr Vincent Ward, ALP., Invercargill; Air A. W. Wheeler, general manager, Union S.S. Co. Ltd., Wellington (or his nominee); Air R. L. Wigley, managing director, Mt. Cook Tourist Co. Ltd., Timaru. The secretary of the newlv formed Association, Mr Geo. AL Fowlds, is now visiting Wanganui in order to make contact with various interested groups, to enrol members and obtain a know ledge of the operations ami facilities connected with the tourist traffic in this district.

Air 1 owlds feels that the Dominion is at last really becoming “tourist conscious” and alive to the wonderful asset it possesses in scenery and sport. 3he exploitation of these resources should prove of great profit to the Government and individuals in the country. A steady increasing income derived from these sources, should go far to offset any temporary depression. If Hawaii, by the adoption of up-to-date methods, can increase the return from tourist traffic by an average of 15 pc- cent, per annum, then there is no reason why the Dominion cannot similarly reap more rich rewards. Surely an extra million or two in this wav would be very acceptable to al parties, and particularly' so as it does not involve the exporting in exchange of any products, like wool and butter produced at little over cost or under. Air Fowlds is staying at the Hotel Parkville.