BUREAU FOR VISITORS IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 4 February 1953, Page 1

BUREAU FOR VISITORS IN TAUPO

ACTION BY RATEPAYERS At the meeting of the Taupo Ratepayers' Association eonsideration will b.e given to correspondence between the Association und the Mimster of Internal Af^airs (Mr Bodkin), on the subject of the establishment of a Tourist Agency as a burean of information and convenience to visitors to Taupo. The niatter was initiated by representations from the Association in September last. The official attitude in reply was that "the demand for agencv services at Taupo is not suffiient to warrant the appointmet of an agent." The Association, dissatisfied with Ihe Minister's attitude, pressed the matter further in November, and stressed /certain points as arguihents in favour of an agency being established. The fact underlined was that "during the holiday season, which extends from December to May, very large numbers of tourists pass through and visit Taupo. Numbers of these are constantly enquiring from the Loca'l Bodies, business people, "and private and public hotels, for information and bookings for tours, fishing parties, trips etc. This service Taupo is unahi e to supply. and we feel we should be in a position to supply." I he letter went on to comment on "a definite apathy on the part of your Department toward any development of the attractions which we undoubtedly can offer the tourists, w and pressed the Minister to recoiisider his decision. Under date December 3rd. ihe Minister replied to the effect that after careful eonsideration of the points raised by the Association he regretted that he was unable to co-m-ply with the request for the establishment of a tourist agency in Taupo. If this were granted, he said, the Department would be faced with similar requests from other parts of the country. -It appeai'ed to him that the existing facilities alford ed by the Government Tourist bureau and other travel ageticies were adequate.