OVERSEAS TOURISTS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1926, Page 1

OVERSEAS TOURISTS

HLW ZEALAND’S POPULARITY. AMERICAN PARTIES COMING. WELLINGTON. February IT. |i j s prohahle that the war lias done tl , pirn, New Zealand on the map of lhe world than any other incident in history, and those in uut-hor-liv claim that the reputation gained liy the. soldiers from the Dominion while in Frame and England lias done much to let llle outside world know ~| ihc vast resources contained ill the lew f.ijiiaiv miles ol these three islands. <',inclusive evidence that the Domin inn lum been widely advertised -what- , ici- (In- cause—is provided in the ligil[■)--; --bowing the inercase in tourist tea Hie from overseas since the world .1 niggle of 1911-1918. It ims iong been known in various pc i t., of (he world that we in this_ |; rjta ij i of the South possess scenic po-ii-ui ic litie*; equal iii grandeur and magnificence to those in any part ol Hie glebe, hut so much misrepresent' H,m lias been broaden?-ted —even by tho.-.e who have actually been to this country and wen for themselves—that travellers were inclined to regard the place as somewhat of an obscurity. A STEADY INCREASE.

The increasing importance of New Zealand as an industrial factor, and its growing value to the Motherland as a permanent source of food supplic. have assisted its universal popiihnitv. with the result that during the past' few years there has been a gratifying fillip to the tourist tradio from overseas. Since the beginning of the war the takings at the various bureaux —which may be accepted as a fair indication of the essentially tourist traffic—have risen by over JHO pet cent... the comparative figures being C?‘?.Too and £87.327 respectively for 1911 and 1925. Tim actual number of tourists given i„ the official statistics for last year js shown-to be 7 Q 98. although there are |opri additional temporary migrants to the country. Comparative figures are sufficient however, to indicate that t'.u-' ihe past 12 years—with but one exception—there has been a -teadx c.-owtli in this direction. j j = generally conceded that one oi the greatest, factors in this pleasing