TOURIST TRAFFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1933, Page 3

TOURIST TRAFFIC

COMBINED EFFORT NEEDED

WELLINGTON, J«n e 26. The necessity for a combined effort by : New Zealan'd and Australia to on- 1 courage tourist traffic front abroad Vas emphasised by Mr ,; Av ’ H. O’Gonnor, representative in America and Canada for tho Australian Travel Association, in an interview to-day on' his arrival in th e Miunginui from San Francisco. Mr O’Connor 6 a;d ho had been in .America for the last three years, ancl ho was returning to Australia, partly on a holiday visit and partly to discuss ;with the board of directors ot the association questions of future policy. During the last three years, he had travelled in practically, fe every state in America and all over Canada, endeavouring to secure publicity for Australia. In addition to talks t 0 clubs., and over the'air, and .arranging for the American press to be supplied with weekly releases of Australian news, he conducted an annual advertising campaign in national magazines. This advertising had resulted in ninny thousands of inquiries regarding tours. Many of ! the inquiries were from people who were considering settling in Australia.

DEPRESSION IN AMERICA. Mr G’Connor said that the extent of the depression in America wa<s not realised in New Zealand and Australia. There were not many countries in the world that had hid .a worse time than 1 the United States- during the last two years. The depression of business and' the public spirit was at the lowest ebb at the time of the "presidential ■ election, but the election of Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt as President caused a" amazing uplift of public: feeling, "ana during this year confidence, had returned to a. degree- lie had not thought possible. Th's was something fio other president ;had .been, to achieve. President 'Roose-vo.lt had the ghod fortune to have a winning smile, a ready tongue, and -an attractive Jvoice. He was ° a n excellent speaker over the .air,, being ‘extraordinarily • popular, and heard by wireless in .near'y every home. Confidence had returned to the people, said Mr O’Connor, aad'o definite bigness uplift we,- apparent. This uplift would result in a resumption ot tourist "business. The desire on tlu> part of Americans to travel had been dammed .up for "three- years, but now the dam was beginning to burst. There Was still a large number of rich Americans, and these people were starting out to travel, and he .felt sure that New Zealand arid M'strjlia would reap a substantial benefit. All who visited the South Seas. Australia, and New Zealand were filled with enthusiasm over ‘what they had seen.

NEED for united action. DracticJilTy since; the beginning ot his -stay in the United States, he bad recognised the advisability of united action bv New Zealand and Australia to attract tourists: There was a common interest in that respect, and practically every -American tourist want-. ;,1 to "See the two countries. Miss Bathie Stuart was doing splendid publicity work for, New Zealand.

During his stay in New Zealand, said Mr O’Connor, he proposed to discuss the question of united action with the .representatives of tourist interests in the Dominon. ■ (Every mail contained inquires from -prospective tourists about New Zealand’s attractions. Mr O’Connor s'i(l he made an interesting experiment before leaving the United States. He prepared . six .radio programmes, and had them electrically recorded, 1 -and These -records were to be .broadcast from m°st. of the principal radio stations' in the United States ■and Cana cl a. He hoped to yet-.a, minimum of 1000 broadcasts.: The records dealt with the South Seas and Australia, and aj.s-o touched upon New Zealand,’and he believed that they would be the most effective means of publicity yet undertaken.