New Caledonia tourist paper bites the dust
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
Like Fiji, New Caledonia produced a give-away tourist newspaper in English in 1968. But unlike Fiji’s Ni Bula Mai, Noumea Holidays appears to have died with the first issue.
It had been overlooked that, according to New Caledonian law, it is illegal to publish in a foreign language without also publishing a French translation alongside.
Evidently the New Caledonian government hasn’t seen why it should change the law so Noumea Holidays stopped after No. 1, September 1968. This issue must, however, have been very large; copies were still being given away in hundreds in January 1969.
The idea came from a local businessman, Mr. G. P. L. Berger, who also has beach-side concessions—ski boats, tour launches, etc.
He was on the right track. Lack of communication is the curse of New Caledonia. Hotel owners, snack-bar proprietors, hirers of small boats, etc., have a psychological aversion to putting anything in print— like menus, or directories in hotel bedrooms.
Consequently guests are forced to drive reception clerks crazy with questions; or to fall back on watching what other people do and then
trying to follow suit.-
JT.