TOURIST DEPARTMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 September 1931, Page 5

TOURIST DEPARTMENT

("Post" Speeial Commissioner.)

FINANC1AL ASPECT THE VALUE OF HOLIDAY TO THE DOMINJON. MONEY SPENT IN TRAVEL.

WELLINGTON, Saturday. The revenue of the Department of Tourist and Health Resort'S and Publicity during the year ended March 31 was- £68,524, - a ddcrea'Se of £6559 over that of the previous year, and the expeUditure, ineluding the overseas publicity branch, w'as £120,413, as against £130, '615 for the previous year, according to the annual report of the Department, which has been presented to Parliament. The ticket saies at the passeUger booking branclies totalled £173,930, as against £201,766 'for the previous year, a decrease of £27,836. The following table shows the reeeipts and expenditure at the main resorts for the year ended 31st March last : — - ' * ' .

Money Well Spent. "Comment is frequently made upon the matter of the national value of

New Zealand's scenie and sporting attraetions and the potential wealth to be derived from a development of the tourist traffie to the Dominion," states the report. "The Department has a full and lively appreciation of the facts in this eonnection, and every effort is made by means referred to in this report to bring the attraetions of this Dominion before the travelling public of other countries, and to arrange as far as possible to give satisfaction to those who visit the Dominion. At the same time the Department is in a position to appreciate also the difficulties which are involved by reason of our 'distance from the larger eentres of prospective tourist population and the keen competition of other countries. "As there are at least fifty National Governments who aetively participate in the encouragement of tourist travel, it will be seen that throughout the world to-day the tourist traffie is recognised as an industry of major importance, and that competition is particuarly keen at the present time between different countries in securing a share of the enormous sums spent annually in travel, estimated by the International Travel Association at £1,500,000,000. "Whereas it is generally recognised through New Zealand that the tourist traffie may be a source of great wealth to any eountry, there are a number of people who are apparently under the impression that only the transport firms and hotels receive the benefit. "That the latter contention is entirely erroneous may be proved by the fact that from statistics compiled by a competent authority it has been shown that the money expended by Ameriean tourists in Canada is distributed as f ollows : — Merchandise, 26 per cent; hotels and restaurants, 37.8 per cent.; transportation, 18.5 per cent'.; confectionery and incidentals, 5. per cent. ; theatres and amusements, 8.5 per cent.; street-car fares, taxis, etc., 3.3 per cent.

Wide Benefits. "In addition to the fact that the money expended hy overseas travellers confers benefits on different classes of the community, it must not be overlooked that the benefits derived from the tourist traffie are not limited to the money actually spent hy tourists within any eountry. The personal knowledge of ecbnomic and social conditions and of trade possibilities gained by visitors often result in indnstrial and commercial developments of a beneficial character. "It will he seen, therefore, from the foregoing that this Dominion has much to gain from the encouragement of tourists, and every effort should be made to this end. "Evidence is not lacking to prove that the publicity work carried out in previous years is having an influence in increasing the popularity of New Zealand's tourist resorts, and would certainly have been reflected in increased business had normal financial conditions overseas prevailed. Notwithstanding the present world decline in tourist travel, the Department already has in hand the detailed arrangements for several large parties to arrive during the coming summer, and the general prospects for the season are by no means unsatisfactory. Given adequate funds for publicity, there is no doubt that the Department, with its selling organisation overseas and with New Zealand, can do much to exploit to the full the wonderful scenic and sporting attraetions of this Dominion. The iiicrease may be gradual at first, but if continuous efforts are made to advertise nnd sell overseas travel within New Zealand, and to cater for our visitors in an efficient manner during their stay here, there is no doubt that the industry ' will, in a eomparatively short spaee of 'time, he regarded as of prime importance to this Dominion."

aJ +J s S3 « £ S H p, to Sh .ST K ra o a) u a) 02 o ft o D o X X P5 M H H Te Aroha 1,244 3,541 2,297 Botorua 38,367 39,330 963 Ro. Acclimat. Dis. 1,456 855 *601 Waitomo Caves 10,352 8,391 *1,961 Lake House, Waikaremoana 2,491 3,585 1,094 Queenstown 223 735 512 Glade House and Milford Track 2,845 7,7179 4334 Morere Hot Springs - 539 394 *145 Pas.-Booking Bureaux 7,893 12,296 4,403 * Excess of receipts over expenditure. The figures for the previous year are: — Te Aroha 1,427 3,391 1,964 Rotorua 38,090 34,829 *3,261 Ro. Acclimat. Dis. 2,677 2,074 *603 Waitomo Caves 12.96S 9,022 *3,946 Lake House, Waikaremoana 2,644 3,042 398 Queenstown 354 1,069 715 Glade House and Milford Track 3,791 6,449 2,658 Morere Hot Springs 715 436 *279 Pas. -booking Bureaux 9,704 13,494 3,790 *Excess of receints over expenditure.