TOURIST TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 11

TOURIST TRAFFIC

DOMINION'S POSITION

EXPERT AMERICAN VIEW

"I have returned with the highest opinion -of New Zealand's climate, attractions, and tourist facilities. T"he Dominion is a country that ono can honestly recommend to tho American people as a place for an ideal holiday," said Mr. J. E. Eyan, of San.Francisco, general passenger manager for the Oceanic Steamship Company, who arrived in Auckland on Wednesday after a ten days' motor-trip through the North Island with Mr. 11. E. Pippin, of Sydney, the company's passenger traffic manager for Australia and New Zealand, states the "New Zealand Herald." In the course of their trip the two officials visited the Waitomo Caves, the Chateau and Tokaanu, going on to Wellington by way of Taihape and Palmerston North. On the return journey they called at Napier, Taupo, and Wairakei, spending somo days at Kotorua and seeing all the principal thermal sights. Mr. Byan said he was more than satisfied with the hotel accommodation everywhere on the trip.- "It is a fallacy to suppose that all Americans demand tho height of luxury," ho added. "Tho great majority of them are accustomed to the same standard of comfort as that of your tourist hotels. Considering the population of the jcountry and the present volume of, tourist traffic, New Zealand hotels are quite reasonably up to date. AMERICANS AND HOTELS. "The typical American visitor really does not expect an unlimited number of bathrooms and so forth. So long as a hotel is well- warmed in cool weather, the food is good, and the beds are comfortable, ho is quite content. It would bo absurd to expect hotel proprietors to provide accommodation far ahead of actual requirements. We are quite convinced that they realise what is wanted, and as soon as the traffic warrants they will do all that is needed to cater for the. extra business. ■ ■ . , ; "Exactly the same applies to your roads and transport. ■ I found the roads very good indeed for a country with a population of less than 1,600,000. Some of them certainly are rougher than in thickly-settled districts of the United States, but from what has been done we are sure that those who are in charge will keep pace with the country's needs. "Evon without Seeing the South Island I am convinced that New Zealand has attractions to suit Americans of all tastos," Mr. Eyan continued. "She has niuch to offer the sportsman, particularly,the angler. For the sightseer there is a wonderful variety of scenery and climate. I do not think Now Zealanders realise that America covers a very Wide range geographically and that people • from different regions differ more in habits, speech, and outlook than, say, Englishmen, AuS' tralians, and New Zealanders. This country has something to offer all of them. .', ', ' DIFFERING REQUIREMENTS. "A man from Texas may go straight to tho southern mountains and put in his whole stay there; a tourist from Oregon may not want 'to go beyond Auckland and Jotorua, but both will thoroughly enjoy themselves." ..V ." On the experience gained already'it Was certain that the American tourist traffic, when properly developed, would cover at least seven months of the year, probably reaching its peak in winter, i This might seem strange, but the explanation was simple. American tourists coming to New Zealand might be divided into two classes—well-to-do1 people coming south' to escape the winter; arid ' people of smaller means spending a summer holiday of six weeks or more. Tho latter class tended to bo the larger. ~ . ' «■ "How the American, tourist trafhc develops will largely depend on how tho people of New Zealand play their part," concluded Mr. Ryan, '."if Americans feel happy and at homo here they will como in larger and larger numbers."