ROTORUA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1929, Page 2

ROTORUA

NEEDS OF TOURISTS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. “A golden opportunity going to waste,” was the opinion of Rotorua given by Sir Hugo Hirst, a member of the British Economic Commission which reported upon the development of resources of the Australian Commonwealth, regarding Rotorua’s development as a key to the touristproblem. Sir Hugo said millions could be made by drastic changes in the conditions prevailing in the thermal district and by the introduction of more up-to-date methods of catering for tourist traffic. “Rotorua seems to me a wonderful place, but it should be brought up-to-date according to the standard of modern Continental spas,” said Sir Hugo. “If you want people in search of health or recreation to travel thousands of miles you must give- them the comforts they have every right to expect and for which they are willing to pay you well.” Sir Hugo said the wonders of the NVhakarewarewa Geyser valley, the Blue and Green Lakes, the Fairy Springs, and the great variety of show places around the town of Rotorua showed the same lack of enterprise and failure to. appreciate the needs of tourists from overseas. Careful investigation of the conditions existing at the leading spas of the world would he sufficient to show the great scope that existed for development.