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Hotel accommodation difficulties in New Zealand at times had a braking effect on tour sales, but the co-operation of the Bureaux at Wellington and Auckland in substantially overcoming these problems is gratefully acknowledged. It is doubtful if much business was lost because of shortages in better-type accommodation, and very tew complaints were received from those visitors who necessarily were obliged to accept what was often inferior accommodation. Ten party tours were operated in conjunction with Sydney Bureau and, in addition five parties with special interests—e.gr., farmers from South Australia and West also organized. Other " special interest " party tours are planned. Britain The Travel Manager in London is confident that tourist traffic from the United Kingdom to New Zealand is now re-established, and this contention is supported by a smart upward trend in direct bookings which are the heaviest dealt with since the end 01 the war, and are almost equal to the volume of business transacted in 1937 Increase for the year was £3,354. ■ Tliere J been a marked improvement in the availability of steamship accommodation and there is every reason to anticipate further improvement. British shipping fleets have been largely restored on the Suez, Cape of Good Hope, and North Atlantic routes but still remain well below pre-war level on the Pacific route. It is noteworthy that whereas several years ago ships were filled largely with " non-tourist " passengers, to-day more and more people travelling mainly for pleasure are figuring in the lists! All vessels now in service are either newly reconditioned or newly commissioned. Although travel by has a strong appeal to the tourist from Britain, who is usually m search of a long leisurely holiday, the airlines, which have the best of modern aircraft m service, also help to swell passenger traffic to New Zealand. Observation tends to confirm that most visitors arriving by air are business men or officials but many of these, of course, combine New Zealand sightseeing to a greater or lesser extent with their principal objectives. While existing currency restrictions are an impediment to international tourist travel for British people, they react to New Zealand's advantage as major tours are necessarily confined to the sterling area. For the time being, at any rate, the pleasures oi round-the-world travel embracing the now troubled countries of the Near East, India, Indonesia, China, and Japan, are gone. It is noticeable, the Travel Manager reports" that as the shipping position improves travel agencies are turning their thoughts oncemore to the promotion of round-the-world tour parties with South Africa, Australia , and New Zealand as the most favoured countries. Fairly extensive contact has been established with travel agencies in the United Kingdom, and a stage is being reached for a more active approach to some six hundred establishments associated with the Department's Bureau. , (4) TRANSPORTATION FROM OVERSEAS (i) Air The air-line services operating to New Zealand from Australia and North Americaare maintained to a high standard and the frequencies of time-table in each case have been sufficient to handle adequately all traffic offering. The improved frequencies in the trans-Tasman service have been of considerable service in dealing with tourist traffic between Australia and New Zealand and vice versa.

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