Black Marks

For Noumean

Tourist Prices

A growing custom in some areas of the South Pacific, of raising local prices every time a

[cruise ship berths, rebounded on

Mew Caledonia in May when the reactions of some dis gruntled tourists resulted in a

highly critical article appearing

in the travel section of a Sydney newspaper.

A PPEARING under a four-column C*- heading reading “Please Don’t Fleece The Tourists”, an article in ;he Daily T ele graph said that passengers on one cruise ship had peen overcharged in stores, night clubs and restaurants in Noumea.

The result was, the article said, ‘before the day was out, hundreds of disappointed and angry people were dreaming back to the ship.

“It was clear that those who had never been to New Caledonia before vould think twice about going again.

“If New Caledonia is sincere in her drive for more tourists, it is surely a strange policy to fleece the one-day /isitor,” the writer said.

The article made these unflattering points: • A Noumea store, which dis played Australian prices promin ently in its perfume department, had charged 20 per cent, above normal.

When this was queried, a shop assist ant said hastily, “I’ve made a mis take,” and reduced the price. • About 400 passenger paid 5A5 a head for a nightclub visit and pecame “the angriest people on the >hip” when they had to drink “warm” champagne, pay 80c a bottle for soft drink, and watch “an embarrassingly amateur” floor show. The ship’s cruise prganiser later refunded SA2 to each pf them after they complained. • Another group of four were charged nearly SA2O for “sandwiches and a drink” for lunch.

Despite all this, the writer awarded bouquets to two Noumea esablish ments.

She said that her foursome “paid

just under SAB for a delicious lunch of ham omelets, tossed french salad, French bread, two kinds of French cheese, a coffee ice specialty and a bottle of red wine.”

“We ate it sitting under the passion fruit vines on the cafe terrace at the Biarritz Restaurant on Anse Vata Beach,” she said.

“Across the road, at the new Nouvata Hotel, people were paying very much higher prices to eat ‘in ternational’ dishes in ‘international’ surroundings. But they were being catered for, not robbed.”

In conclusion, the writer said: “Having spent two holidays in New Caledonia, I know that some items are dear even in normal circum stances—spirits, imported soft drinks and fruit juices, between meal snacks, pharmaceutical items, “But if French perfumes, brandies, liqueurs and fashion goods are not well below Sydney prices, you are being over-charged.”