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INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OFFICIAL TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS In September, 1949, the Travel Manager in London represented this Department at the Annual Assembly of this Union. This Department is a full member and, fittingly so, New Zealand is rapidly regaining its position among the foremost tourist countries. The Union is universally regarded as well-founded, financial, and everywhere is recognized as the most knowledgable international organization in the field of tourism. Its services in this wide field are expected to be valuable and highly useful to all members, and, because the outlook is international and not national, the body is one worthy of support by all tourist countries. COMMONWEALTH LIAISON COMMITTEE : WORKING GROUP ON TOURISM This Working Group is one of several functioning in London under the direction of the Commonwealth Liaison Committee set up following the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' Conference in July, 1949. The terms of reference of the Group are "to consider measures to encourage tourism in the Commonwealth with the primary object of increasing dollar earnings from this source." This Group has a high status in Commonwealth governmental affairs and as part of a confidential body its findings come to notice at a high level. The Travel Manager in London has acted for this Department as a member of the Working Group. Opportunity was taken recently to inform the Group of the action taken by the Minister in Charge of the Department in calling together the Conference at the Chateau Tongariro as evidence of steps which New Zealand is taking to develop its tourist traffic from abroad, particularly from North America. NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL TOURIST CONFERENCE An important conference of certain segments of New Zealand's tourist industry wag convened at the Chateau Tongariro on 4th to 6th March, 1950, by the Hon. the Minister in Charge of the Department, Hon. F. W. Doidge. The Hon. the Minister in opening the conference epitomized the scope of the business to be transacted in his opening address, and said, inter alia : " . . . our purpose is to endeavour to stimulate and expand New Zealand's tourist industry . . . Those who are present . . . represent every important phase of that industry, and . . I . . . regard this conference as an opportunity of pooling expert opinion and making a realistic survey of the problems attached to that industry. Ido feel very strongly . ... . that we in New Zealand have something to sell, something that men and women all over the world never cease to search for, something unchallengably and, in my view, superlatively better than the traveller will find in any other part of the world. It is my claim, and I am sure that you will say it with me, that nowhere else can be found such a diversity of tourist attractions as in New Zealand . . . The Tourist Department and las Minister, cannot succeed alone. Nor can the job be left to individual concerns. It is obvious that co-operation is essential. And so it is that we ask you to join with us in an endeavour to work out a plan that will enable us to attract more tourists, to ensure the very best transport facilities, and to extend and improve the accommodation that will be available to tourists when they get here." As previously indicated, some progress has already been made in the implementation of the recommendations brought down at the conference. Some, it will be seen, are matters to be resolved at a high level, and others are necessarily long-term propositions. It was possible, however, to obtain immediate action in respect of many of the proposals, and the work initiated is expected to be productive of worth-while results to the full extent of the capacity of all concerned.

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