DENIAL OF TOURIST BIAS AGAINST SOUTH ISLAND

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 7

DENIAL OF TOURIST BIAS AGAINST SOUTH ISLAND

A thorough - and impartial investigation of any specific instances of Tourist Department officers discouraging tourists from visiting the South Island has been promised by the general manager of the department (Mr K. B. Longmore), said the manager of the Government Tourist Bureau in Christchurch (Mr W. A. Pickford) in reply to a correspondent. Mr K. W. Barker. Mr Barker, in a letter to the editor of “The Press,” said:— “The general manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department denies my "allegations” that tourists are being discouraged from visiting the South Island. He says he would be glad to hear of any specific cases. What could be more specific than the cases I quoted? That erf the American told by the official of the Auckland Government Tourist Bureau that “with the onset of cold weather the South Island was closed for the winter to tourists.” And of another American informed by a Virginian travel agent that “the South Island was uninhabited, too cold, etc.” Bearing in mind conversations with many other tourists who spoke in a similar vein, one could only reach the obvious conclusion—that certain North Island travel agents were denying the South Island its fair share of New Zealand’s tourist trade. Mr E. P. Barker’s unsolicited contribution must make the general manager’s denials seem all the more incongruous.” Bureau Comment Mr Pickford said that Mr Longmore had suggested that if Mr Barker would give the name of the particular Ameri- , can visitor a full inquiry would be made. He said that,'of the conducted tours operated during the present season by the Tourist Department and sold within New Zealand to New Zealand and overseas visitors, 4fi tours were run in the South Island and only 11 similar tours in the North Island. These tours did not include the short tours operated in both islands by various tourist bureaux. “Of the 48 South Island tours, 23 were organised and operated by the Auckland office, and in addition that office booked a large number of tourists on tours operated by the other bureaux,” Mr Pickford said. “Moreover, the Auckland office has for years promoted a special series of conducted tours to operate in the winter season which we call the ’Southern Wonderland Tour.’ Last season (May to October), the Auckland office ran nine of these tours; this year there will be 10. In addition conducted tours sold overseas will operate during the same period—this year, three Australian and one American tour; last year there were one Australian and one American tour. “Incongruous” “I suggest that this is rather incongruous indeed for an organisation said to be denying the South Island its fair share of the tourist traffic. Of the conducted tours operated this season by all the travel agencies in this field, the South Island had a much larger share than the North Island—approximately 33.330 beds booked in the South Island, approximately 13.547 beds booked in the North Island. The Tourist Department's promotion is

included In these bookings, but taken separately the tourist bureaux booked 15.249 beds in the South Island, and 5302 in the North Island. “Mr E. P. Barker made reference to commissions paid by hotels. A travel agency survives by commissions earned. The greater the distance a tourist is booked the more commission the agency earns, so that there is a good inducement for any Auckland travel agent to book his clients right round the South Island. If Mr Barker had the job of finding beds for intending tourists in the South Island he might realise just how effectively the North Island travel agencies are doing this, bearing in mind that 80 per cent, of our overseas visitors arrive at a North Island port or airport,” said Mr Pickford.