Le Tourisme
The representatives of the national tourist associations of forty countries met in London last week, demonstrating by this surprising choice of a venue their own personal conviction of the desirability of foreign travel, whatever the hardships. They said that official im- pediments to foreign travel should be removed as soon as possible, and in this they have the unanimous support of all the British autho- rities who have spoken on this matter, from the Foreign Minister downwards. The latest voice is that of the British Liner Committee, which joins the chorus of execration of the universal nuisance of visas, and reminds those who have forgotten, or never knew, that before 1914 passports were unnecessary for persons travelling abroad. This war-time accumulation of impediments must be cleared away, if only for economic reasons. Before the war tourists brought about £30 million a year to this country. The Travel Association would like to make it £roo million ; and there is no limit to the amount of income from this source which we could now use. Even if the opening of a tourist campaign must be postponed to 1947 the wheels can begin to turn now. General oversight of the subject has recently been transferred from the Ministry of Labour to the Board of Trade, perhaps in a search for drive and imagination, which search need not necessarily be abandoned at this point. There is a project to train up new generations of cooks, waiters and managers ; in which it is hoped that the historical approach will not be over-emphasised. Railway restaurant-cars are coming back. The British tourist trade must look to its future—not its past.
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