H—2

Britain The report of the Department's Travel Manager in London discloses that the prospects for development of tourist traffic from the United Kingdom are still dependent on seatransport conditions. The situation is improving gradually and there is every reason to hope that more individual tourists will come from Britain in 1949-50, although it is unlikely that their numbers will be great. The actual business for 1948-49 was much better than in 1947-48. (d) Transportation from Overseas Shipping facilities are still below requirements, although with the resumption of the Vancouver-Auckland, Sydney-Auckland, Sydney-Wellington, and South Africa - New Zealand services, and additional vessels on the England - New Zealand run, improved traffic trends are indicated. Kegular schedules will enable overseas travel agents to make more specific offerings to prospective visitors to New Zealand. Increased airtransport frequencies are responsible for a marked improvement in New Zealand's tourist traffic, and it is likely that with the advent of further services during the coming year the tourist movement to New Zealand by air will be accelerated greatly. (e) Transportation : Domestic During the past twelve months there has been a considerable increase in transportation services within New Zealand. The provision of additional modern road equipment, the restoration of several railroad schedules, and more frequent airways services have enabled the movement of people to be accomplished without difficulty. (/) Accommodation In New Zealand, as well as in other countries, accommodation for tourists continues to present problems. The local position has been eased somewhat, despite shortages of labour and materials. The reopening of two major resort hotels (the Chateau Tongariro and Wairakei), and the Hotel Trans-Tasman in Auckland, has given very welcome relief. Plans also exist for further increases in accommodation by both private and governmental interests. (g) Tourist Arrivals Persons arriving in New Zealand describing themselves as tourists numbered 7,828, showing an increase of 136 as compared with 1947-48. The countries of origin were : Australia .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,580 Great Britain .. .. .. .. .. • • 1,105 United States of America .. .. .. .. 465 Canada .. .. .. ~ .. .. 175 Pacific islands .. .. .. .. .. .. 976 Other British countries .. .. .. .. .. 379 Other foreign countries . . . . .. .. .. 106 Europe .. .. ~ .. .. .. 42 7,828 Total tourist arrivals in previous years were as follows : 1938-39 .. .. 13,054 1944-45 .. .. 1,425 1939-40 .. .. 6,890 1945-46 .. .. 2,576 1940-41 .. .. 3,810 1946-47 .. .. 4,840 1941-42 .. .. 1,798 1947-48 .. .. 7,692 1942-43 .. .. 630 1948-49 .. .. 7,828 1943-44 ~ .. 974

4