What Tourists

Think About

New Caledonia

• Need for nudist camps, some say

A report just issued by the Noumea Junior Chamber of Commerce reveals that tourists in New Caledonia are far from satisfied with tourist facilities in

the territory, although they have

some pleasant things to say about them, too.

The report is based on replies to questionnaires which hotels and air lines have been handing to tourists visiting the territory.

Here are some of the tourists’ opinions, with comments on them by PlM’s Noumea correspondent, Fred Dunn: • Ninety-five per cent, of the tourists expressed the desire to see something of the countryside, and all seemed to agree that a few days in Noumea were sufficient.

To see something of the country side, however, is easier said than done. Indifferent hotels and worse roads make it hard for travel people to organise anything that can be recommended.

An effort has been made over the last year or two to increase the number of rooms in the country hotels, and the construction of Melanesian-type bungalows has met with the approval of visitors.

But getting to the country centres is something of an adventure. There are air services using small planes, but not everyone likes this type of transport.

An expedition by road, on the other hand, is exhausting to the older tourists, and many of them are apt to return to Noumea more tired than before they left—despite a few days’ rest in the country. This is due to the bad roads and the endless delays in crossing the rivers.

Hotel service

• Service in hotels, or, rather, the lack of it, came in for much criticism.

This has always been the Achilles heel of the hotel industry in New Caledonia —the reason for it being

that neither the Europeans, who are too independent, nor the Melanesians, who are too lackadaisical, make good hotel workers.

A class to train hotel personnel was recently opened in Noumea, but so far only 20 students have enrolled.

In defence of the locals, however, it must be said that hotel work is ill paid, and that the hours are long and awkward, with no free weekends. • Many tourists would like some help with their baggage when arriving at Tontouta airport, and it was sug gested that porters should be engaged for this. On the other hand, the pass port and Customs services were praised as courteous and expeditious. • Some 20 per cent, of tourists expressed a wish to see nudist centres established. Many of the others thought no special camps were neces sary, but that it would be a good idea if some of the reef islands “far from the madding crowd” could be made available for those who wished to indulge in nudism.

That some of the 20 per cent, were serious was shown by a recent scandal near Noumea when three young female tourists went bathing in the nude at nightfall.

Gallant male

All the men of the neighbourhood were soon on the scene, and it took one very gallant male to get them out of their embarrassment—using a variation of the Raleigh technique and procuring towels for them so they could leave the water unblush ingly. • Almost all tourists were dis pleased by Noumea’s night attrac tions. The nightclubs were described as dirty, crowded and noisy, and very much below average. • Many tourists expressed a desire to see native dancing, folklore activi-

ties and a cinema showing first-rate films in English. • The creation of a gambling casino was strongly advocated—the type of gambling desired ranging from baccarat and roulette to crap and black jack. • A golf course was also loudly called for.

A move to establish a golf course was made recently when the Terri torial Assembly decided to buy 100 acres of land about 10 miles out of Noumea, just off the main road near the Dumbea River. The purchase price was $A 100,000.

When the golf course and other sporting facilities are completed on this land, the property will probably be handed over to the Tourist Bureau to be managed. • One feature which all tourists praised highly was Noumea’s mini bus service. The safety, courtesy, speed and democracy of this service —one often finds oneself squeezed between a couple of big Melanesian or Wallisian women—found favour with all tourists.

WELL-KNOWN New Guinea and Sydney businessman, Mr. Steven Rich, has bought a Sydney-based travel agency, Transit Travel.

Mr. Rich, who is chairman of the ANG Corporation group of com panies which has timber, coffee, tea and rubber interests in NG, told PIM he had bought the travel agency as a private business.

He said he intended to promote travel in the South Pacific, includ ing New Guinea.

Universally praised—Noumea's mini-buses.