RECORD YEAR PREDICTED

Evening Star, Issue 22143, 25 September 1935, Page 10

RECORD YEAR PREDICTED

LOCAL TOURIST TRAFFIC OTA6O RESORTS HEAVILY MOKED A record year is predicted by the local branch of the Government Tourist Office, and a ‘Star’ reporter was informed this morning that present indications are that last year’s record figures will be easily surpassed. For the six months so far tms year, the figures are well in advance of those for a similar period of lasb year, and it is interesting to note that the volume of tourist business has increased steadily during the last three years. The Milford track opens on November 30, and will be open till March 31, and there are already good bookings for this trip. ' , . A number of comprehensive itineraries have been arranged for both South and North Islands from Dunedin, particularly for the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, which, have been extremely popular this year. In a recent fortnight there were 30 bookings from Dunedin either for Franz Josef Glacier . or Fox Glacier. * . . ■ The round trip from Cimstchnrch- ' Blenheim-Nelson-West Coast has been responsible for a large number of inquiries, and there has been heavy booking of accommodation for Stewart Island and especially Queenstown, at which four boarding houses are already almost fully booked for Christmas. The Tourist Office is beginning to receive the copies of itineraries from Melbourne for intending passengers by the Marama for her earlier sailings Ibe Marama will'call at Milford Sound both on the inward and outward journey, and this is making the trip more popular. There have also been a large number of inquiries for tlie Eglinton \ alley The position now is that, in the main, people are taking longer trips than they did from 1930 to 1933 when the shorter the trip the better pleainl they were. Mount Cook has been very poplar during the winter sports season, and the Chateau Tonganro has also been well-patronised, largely by Nort.ii island travellers, especially from AVelungton and Auckland.