DOLLAR-EARNING POSSIBILITIES IN TOURIST TRADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 83, 9 January 1950, Page 5

DOLLAR-EARNING POSSIBILITIES IN TOURIST TRADE

Immediately on his return from the conference of Commonwealth Ministers at Colombo, the Minister of Health and Tourist Resorts (Mr Doidge) intends to hold a Conference (probably at the Chateau Tongariro) of all those interested in means of expanding New Zealand’s dollar-spending tourist trade. “In New Zealand we badly need dollars—we need at least 30,000,000 dollars in order to meet average yearly commitments in the United States,”'' said Mr Doidge. “In common with other Commonwealth countries, we are pledged to cut our claim on the dollar pool by 25 per cent. Needing dollars, we face the problem of how to earn them.” Those invited to attend the conference at the Chateau Tongariro will include representatives of the chief hotel groups, principals of travel agencies, representatives of the main shipping lines, road transport companies, and the railways. The head of the Tourist Departl- - Mr L. J. Schmidt, is now engaged making preliminary arrangements for the conference. “In New Zealand we are missing a golden opportunity,” Mr Doidge said. “We possess one of the greatest dollar-drawing magnets in the world. Nowhere is there a more fascinating country to visit than ours.

“Reports from the United States and Canada indicate that there will be a big revival of Pacific traffic at the end of 1950. Already, airline and steamship companies, foreseeing a renewed trend towards the South Pacific, are actively promoting forward business.”