TOURIST TRAFFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1929, Page 3

TOURIST TRAFFIC

SUBSTANTIAL FIGURES. EXTENSION OF PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN. WELLINGTON. April (>. ' A paragraph recently appearing in the newspapers regarding the number of visitors to tin* Dominion was brought to the notice of the .Minister in Charge of Publicity. Hon. \V. M. Taverner to-day. The Alinister stated that from the figures supplied by the Government Statistician, the number of visitors to the Dominion have steadily increased since the commencement of the active publicity campaign. T.u 192-1. 7429 overseas visitors came to these shores, in 1923. 7898. in 1920. 9909, in 1927. 9109 and for the year just ended the numbers had increased to DOCK), showing an increase of 900 persons over the previous year, and 2000 more/ than in 1924. “It is very difficult indeed.” continued the Alinister. “to estimate what these numbers represent in foreign capital brought into the country. Some people consider that a conservative estimate is £IOO a- bead, which would make the present value of the tourist traffic to this country in the vicinity of £1,000,000. The increase has been stea’dy over the past four years, and has undoubtedly returned far more than Hie amount of money spent for publicity purposes, but I am, however, far from satisfied that these figures represent the best effort that the Dominion can make in its bid for tourist traffic. It must he remembered, of course, that practically every other country in the world with anything to offer the visitor is also undertaking a very active campaign for a sraro of the market. It- will he the policy of the Government to extend its publicity campaign in future, and the whole matter is now being carefully gone into with a view to improving our representation overseas. When these matters have been attnded to every effort will be made to bring our niaiiv attractions still more before the notice of those who are Likely to visit our shores for either business or pleasure.”