TOURIST TRAFFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1932, Page 3

TOURIST TRAFFIC

DECLINE LAST YEAR. WELLINGTON, October 5. A material decline in both local and overseas tourist traffic dur'ng the past mar j-s accorded in the annual report of the Department of Tourist and Health Re s orts and Pub’icity, ■ which 1 was presented to Parliament thi® afternoon-. The position was reflected in „he financial returns of transput- organisations and hotels, but although ,h-3 decline had been srostant-ial, ncr.y e oi s had 'been ab'-e fo report business. ’ 'rahm from the United Kingdom dir ! tog; the year was affected at a critic eiiod by tie departure from the go.-' <t'-ndard. More or less temporary difi. : cities were caused, and definite- cancel latione of booking resu’bcfl. The ;H*g! lenmissioner’s office in London wsr ■lO -■ iin clo-se.r touch , with (shipping con p-lies and travel organisations, ar- , .lining the past year several furtlp ■ imnort-an overseas travel firm® locat. in England -were added to the list' - - those which the Department represer in the Dominion, a’’d through wh>business was arranged on commisdo

VISITORS FROM AUSTRALIA. f L The tourist, business f r o.n Austra'.: i,s always looked upon as being o major importance,” states the report “aid it is from the Commonwealth that we -secure the majority of our overseas visitors, 'improved publicity methods m the Commonwealth, «up . ported by better selling arrangement through the Department’s agent® an- ! offices, have offset the general ten-dent; for reduced -travel. Our efforts, hot‘cv tv, have- been faced with difficulties in the mat er of adverse -exchange, th-f ' closing of the iState Savings Bank in ' Nfetv .South Wales, increased taxation , the threat of shipping strikes in the 1 spring and early summer and the ab se.ice* of direct shipping from Me'-o-irn'e. In -spite of -these difficulties Ui! Department’s Australian organisation personally dealt with over 70f people daring the past year, and sole ' sh'pph.g and travel ticket® to a total value 'of over, £23,059. f?he figure: are actually greater than in earlkv years.- The average value of the toursold, .however, has shown a dec'-ine. ,r: d reflects the' tendency, towards a <barter trip and a cheaper holiday.” The revenue of the Department fo'r the financial year under review was £58,876, a decrease of £9648 over that of the previous year, and the expendi- ' tore; including th e oversea® publicity branch, was £91.951, as £120,413.

CRUISE SHIPS. Tourist traffic induced 'by the L--i figuration of the Lvlatson Line is commented on. New Zealand was again visited last year, -says the report, by two cruise ship® of the Matson Line, a-nd further visits from cruise ships are planned and expected for the coming season. The prospects of traffic from America are undoubtedly enhanced by the inauguration of the n«w steamsh p service to 'Auckland, particularly a® ..the new servic.e is being , supported by extensive publicity in America.