Helping Develop The Tourist Industry

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 2

Helping Develop The Tourist Industry

IBy

CAROLE LYDERS]

Bom and bred in a welfare state, many New Zealanders at a first glance appear to have forgotten the “self-help” tradition of the pioneers and are quite happy to sit back and leave future developments to the Government.

Yet there are still plenty of New Zealanders in all walks of life who are determined to play their roles in the country’s development—with or without Government assistance. This is noticeable in the tourist industry, as yet a lusty baby which, with the right incentives, could grow quickly to flourishing adulthood. Four people in particular have positive faith in this baby and are doing their utmost to help its development They are Mr Alan Henderson and his wife June, two young New Zealanders who two years ago built and opened the Frankton Motels at Queenstown, and Serbianborn Mr Pete Sulejmanovic

and his German wife Margaret, both New Zealand citizens, who' own Pete's Adriatic Motels at Te Anau. Mr and Mrs Henderson cannot now recall how they became interested in the tourist industry, but both recognised the need to provide first-class accommodation for both New Zealand and overseas tourists at Queenstown. Lake Wakatipu So they went to wort: and built 44 motel units on the shores of Lake Wakatipu to accommodate 132 visitors. The work is hard and the hours long—ls hours a day, seven days a week—but they love it. “We are both wrapped up in the business, said Mr Henderson. In addition, they run a general store where you can buy anything from gumboots to blue vein cheese, a souvenir bar and Mr Henderson is also postmaster of Wakatipu Post Office, which offers full postal facilities to guests at any time. Somehow they also find time to bring up a family of a boy and a girl. At present they can only

provide a breakfast service, but any day now work will start on an amenities block, incorporating a wine, dine, and dance restaurant to seat 112, a lounge, television room, house bar, office and souvenir shop due to be opened in November. The breakfast service itself is unique. Outside each motel is a door opening into a small pantry. Each morning a buzzer sounds and the guests goes to his pantry and finds his breakfast. Fifteen years ago, Mr and Mrs Sulejmanovic arrived in New Zealand from Germany as assisted immigrants. For five years they worked in the woollen mills at Mosgiel and in hotels to learn English. Eleven years ago they became New Zealand citizens. Shortly after they opened a mixed shop at Cascade Creek, on the road between Te Anau and Milford. Then Mr Sulejmanovic was offered a share in a shop in Te Anau. One thing led to another. Mr and Mrs Sulejmanovic started a cafe, acquired a section and built motels to provide luxury accommodation for about 80 guests. “Not Enough Incentives” Mr Sulejmanovic is concerned at the Government’s attitude to the tourist industry. He maintains the individual in the industry can only do so much under current conditions. “The present system of taxation will not allow us to go ahead. The Government must give the industry more incentive,” he said. He considers that a complete revision of the tax situation is needed. The tourist season is short and the work hard with little profit. “People like to see some return for their work,” he said. Mr Sulejmanovic said that the industry could earn £lOO million instead of £lO million annually with the right incentives. He fears that unless the Government changes its ideas, the tourist trade will pass New Zealand by. He himself would like to build a chain of top-class motels throughout the country “to give tourists a good spin.” There is no doubt that the country needs such accommodation, but there is no chance of his making further developments in an unfavourable tax climate. New Zealanders did not realise the benefits to be realised from tourism. The country was greatly handicapped by a small population. “We have to change our ideas on tourists both local and overseas. They come to enjoy their money and we should help them by providing good, reasonably priced service, accommodation, and entertainment,” said Mr Sulejmanovic. Good service was particularly important to American tourists who were used to it and at cheaper prices. “The United States is a fantastic market for us, even if we only get 4 per cent of their population to come to New Zealand.” he said.