The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1935. THE GROWING TOURIST TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 84, 3 January 1935, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1935. THE GROWING TOURIST TRAFFIC

A»correspondent whose letter is printed in the column next to this makes several points that are worthy of notice in New Year planning. -Briefly, they are these: more tourists than hitherto will be coming to New Zealand —or will be available to come if we can entice- them—this year and in the years following. Not all of therii will be wealthy people: many will be “just ordinary folk like ourselves.” Their travel and sight-seeing within the country can safely be left in the-capable hands of the Tourist Department; but as citizens all of us may help in making them welcome; and our overseas appeal—our tourist salesmanship—could be strengthened. Since tourist questions are likely to be discussed this year in rather more than usual detail, these conclusions, whatever their individual soundness, are valuable as the result of one man’s informed but disinterested thought. Disinterested, that is, as far as any of us can be so in a national concern that is coming to be spoken of as a national industry. A conference of tourist interests held at Wellington in-August last resolved: That the Government and private interests involved in tourist and publicity matters in New Zealand be co-ordinated’ first, by placing the Tourist Department, under the control of a board separated from the Public Service, then by developing all the interests affected for the purpose of bringing tourists to and caring for them in New Zealand. This resolution was placed before the Government by a committee appointed at the conference, and,-although no.ofiicial action has been taken, there have since been fresh stirrings of interest in several quarters. A definite step forward may be expected this year. Two points should be urged upon those likely to be concerned. First, that they should recognise the good work now being done by the Government department; and, secondly, that they should not allow themselves to be deluded into believing that tourist traffic is necessarily a luxury traffic. Some of it is: people who come here travelling first class on palatial liners naturally look for hotel service on a similar scale. But all do not come on luxurydiners, nor in the first class. \ Those who do not, ask of hotels and .travel services reasonable comfort and efficiency with economy. And, while they may not expect it, the addition of a welcoming hand from some organisation qualified to speak for the New Zealand public would add immensely to the enjoyment of their visit. In this connection our correspondent makes a valuable suggestion when he writes of the “organised reception” of tourists.' Useful work of this type is already being done in Auckland by a voluntary association; there is room for an active counterpart in Wellington.