Lake County Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1948 NEEDS OF THE TOURIST

Lake County Mail, Issue 40, 10 March 1948, Page 2

Lake County Mail WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1948 NEEDS OF THE TOURIST

The business of the recent meeting of the Queenstown Progressive League was largely concerned with the .scarcity “of accommodation in Queenstown for visitors. It was competent for the league to take this matter and institute some steps to bring before the Tourist Department, the imperative need to at least make a commencement with 'the hostel on the site purchased for the purpose. The construction should be on a high priority for the demand for tourist accommodation in Queenstown was never greater than it was during the past season. Point is given to this by the figures which were unfolded at the meeting of the league. Two thousand prospective visitors who wanted to come to the_town or district were turned down by the tourist bureau in New Zealand between Christmas and the end of February. Another 4000 applied either directly or indirectly to the hotels and boarding establishments or through other channels. Only partial accommodation was available to many who came to the town and upwards of 2000 were on the camping grounds. The figures given the league are outstanding and this body should be prepared to make a good ease for consideration of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association which is meeting in Dunedin in April. The general manager of the Tourist Department, Mr L. J. Schmitt, stated recently that tourist accommodation throughout Now Zealand is bbing taxed to the utmost to eater for the many holiday makers at present touring .the country. “We do not have to advertise New Zealand overseas at all at the present time” said Mr Schmitt. Not only arc more New Zealanders travelling than ever before the war, he said but parties of Americans and between 500 and 600 Australians are touring the country. It can be undeniably claimed that Queenstown is the most, sought-after tourist resort in New Zealand or at least,in the South Island because it can offer scenic attractions second to none. This is the considered opinion of many overseas tourists who have visited the town. It may be 'repeated, therefore, that not only are many thousands of trav-, ellers being denied the glories of the Lakes district, but the Government is losing a vast potential source of revenue. We say, again, too strong a .case cannot be presented for consideration by the South Island Local Bodies’ Association and, incidentally for private enterprise.