Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPT. 12, 1947 “AT YOUR SERVICE”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 79, 12 September 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPT. 12, 1947

“AT YOUR SERVICE”

OFFER TO TOURISTS BRITONS VOLUNTEER AS HOSTS

Over a hundred offers of accommodation, motor car rides and sightseeing tours have been made by Associate Members of the British Travel Association who have volunteered to act as hosts to overseas members who visit Britain. These gestures made by the Travel Association’s members result from the formation of the Associate Membership scheme early this 3'ear, which provides an opportunity for every man and woman in Great Britain to play an active part in .the Govern-ment-supported drive to attract tourists to the British Isles.

The offers of hospitality emanate from all parts of „the country. Accommodation,, riding and golfing holidays, motor rides and sightseeing tours predominate. A London member offers to show visitors round the Metropolis at weekends, and entertain them to tea on Sundays. His wife is also prepared to assist visitors with their shopping. Both are Spanish-speaking.

Other invitations are from members who are experts on famous English barracks, Kew Gardens, the Tower of London, and many other places of interest. Still more members have expressed willingness to act as voluntary guides on sightseeing tours to sporting, musical and dramatical occasions. Two-way Value •Further to emphasise the twoway value of the scheme, overseas members have offered hospitality to British members, who are visiting their country. These include eight to ten days’ holiday in Morocco, and bed and breakfast in Belgium. The British Travel Association hopes, in due course, to establish travel circles in various parts of Great Britain where members and overseas visitors will be brought intimately in touch with one another.

“As the scheme expands,’ said a Travel Association official, “it will provide an excellent opportunity for tourists to be welcomed into the homes of British people,, to receive the hospitality for which the British people are well known and consequently to gain a far better understanding of the British way of life than they would otherwise have acquired if such contacts had not been established for their benefit.

“Likewise, British people will be able to pay return visits to different countries, and stay in the homes of people there. The scheme should provide a really valuable contribution to international goodwill and understanding.”