TOURIST TRAFFIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 7

TOURIST TRAFFIC

RECORD SEASON EXPECTED BOOKINGS ALREADY HEAVY. (By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, November 22. A large exodus from Auckland to popular holiday resorts during the Christmas season is indicated by the bookings already made at the' local tourist bureau. The holiday rush has begun in real earnest and a very busy season is anticipated. Accommodation at Rotorua for Christmas is already well booked and heavy l bookings have been made for Wairakei, Taupo, Waitomo Caves and the trip down the Wanganui river, which is becoming more popular every 'year. A large number of Auckland people have expressed their intention of spending their holidays in the south, and the bureau has received numerous inquiries in regard to Mdffnt Cook and Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown and Milford Track. Judging by the inquiries Milford Track should he especially popular. Russell with its deep sea fishing will also attract a large number of people. . In January and February many overseas sportsmen, who were here last year, expressed their intention of coming back with, friends and a record number of visitors is anticipated. A feature of the season, so far, has been the extended tours arranged for overseas tourists who have already, arrived. In past seasons the Tourist Department has found that the majority of overseas visitors made a flying visit, spending one day here and another there. The Auckland bureau has hooked several lengthy tours which are more beneficial to the tourist traffic because short tours bring about difficulties in the matter of accommodaion in rush seasons.

A unique development in the tourist traffic is the decision of the Railway Department, in conjunction with the Tourist Department, to run a one-day excursion to Waitomo Caves next Sunday. This is the first trip of its kind, and if it is a success others will follow. * 1

“I think we can look forward to '* record season,” said Mr Clarke, manager of the Auckland Tourist Bureau, “in addition to the large numbers of New Zealand people who will travel. Everything points to an unusually large influx of tourists from oversees.’!.