TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1927, Page 1

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

DUNEDIN OFFICER’S IMPRESSIONS. (•‘Otago Daily Times.”) After an extended holiday and business visit to various Tourist Department offices in both the North and the South Islands, Mr A. E. Wilson, officer in charge of. the Tourist Bureau in Dunedin, is able to estimate fairly the prospects for the coining season. In a chat with a “Daily Times” reporter he stated that indications pointed to a busy summer at the various resorts. “ Everywhere there is an optimistic leel'ing, and a very successful season is anticipated,” lie stated. Two parties of American tourists are due early in the season, and general indications are for a much increased number of oversea visitors. Correspondence at the head office from all parts has increased very much of late, no doubt due to the efforts of the Publicity Department and other mediums such as the wonderfully successful tour of the New Zealand cricket team.” NEW WEST COAST ROUTE. Mr Wilson returned to Tj)unedin via the West Coast, and was very pleased with the route. The Blenheim-Nclson-Westport motor drive was a magnificent attraction, and ho was delighted to see that the famous Bailor Gorge lias lost litti’e if any of its charm. Two new tourist routes from Westport would ho available in the summer. A road making a direct run from Westport to Blenheim over Topliouse would probably bo open before Christmas. llowevr, a route which, unfortunately, would not be completed inside t\vo years was the Westport-oreymouth son. coast road. This route would he of tho greatest importance to tourist work. The Bleu hei in-.Nelson-Westport-lloki-tika route, with its combination of ruggedness and gentle hush beauty terminating in the glorious splendour of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, and passing those gems of hike scenery, lantlie and Mapourika, would have an added glory. “ .lust imagine how a sixty-mile run from Westport to Grc.vmouth along the sea coast through Greymoiith’s pride, the Ptinakaiki Beach with its wonderful blow-hole, will add to the attractiveness of tho whole route.” he added. “ Finally, comes the Hokitikn-Cln isteburch run through Otira. This gives additional variety, and the whole is im-

doutbedly a magnificent tourist route. At the present time the snow-clad hills and mountain peaks of this portion givo such a background that makes one wonder if the scenery could be equali’ed anywhere.” AN INCREASING DIFFICULTY. Greatly improved roads and better facilities provided b,v individual districts so Hint tourists might bo attracted was adding one difficulty to the tourist, agent’s work, he said. One particular district: could offer perhaps equally gooil and similar scenery as another, and the ovexeas tourists had only an averago of three weeks to do the whole of New Zealand in. Li would be seen, therefore. that the Government Tourist Agent had an increasing difficulty in arranging itineraries to everyone’s satisfaction. The old days of the stereotyped route had gone. As in other industries, specialising had to be done, and the tourist provided with as varied a route as possible. “ The West Coast, and its great coalmining fields, has a special interest to many visitors,” concluded Mr Wilson. “ and this factor will be of good advantage when tho tide of tourists sets in —-a tide that the department, though beset with so many difficulties, has been working so quieti'y and effectively to attract.”