Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-23
Germans Regret
Their High Prices
DiSbarred Tourists

Hamburg. Oct. ca. =. by MaiD-
European tourist agencies. hotel
keepers. railway and steamship Of
fcials are now busy trying to make
an estimate of next years possible
TOURIST business from the United
States.
Ihe season now coming to n close
mas been record-breaker. especially
LOT England. France and Italy.
swltzeriand mad good year, and
austria and Czechoslovakia did well
Belgium and Holland also prospered
ana, together with Switzerland. won
the approval Of visitors through
their waving Of passport regula tions
ana general courtesy to travellers.
Germany had poor wear. and
German hotelkeepers are much dis
appointed that the visitors from
america who flocked to the Wemblev
exposition and the Olympic Games
did not extend their trip into Ger
many. This was due in part to the
upset condition of the transporta :.
ton systems of Germany. and also
10 nigh prices. the municipal taxes
imposed on foreign hotel guests. and
the difficulties which foreigners
underwent last year at the hands of
herman police officials. when an ef-
Tort was made to free the country
OF objectionable foreigners"
Americans who have visited Ger.
many this year have been mostly
persons of German extraction, and
business men. News of the high
Frlces undoubtedly sent many peo-
PIE to Italy or southern France who
might otherwise have come to Ger
many.
On the whole Americans who
visited Europe this season probably
old not have as comfortable n time
as they anticipated. London hotels
were crowded throughout the sea
son. and their prices were so high
that even wealthy tourists found
much fault. The same was true of
Paris. The Olympic Games and the
conventions Of lawyers and advertis-
ing men in London filled both Paris
ana London to overlooking with
Americans. Many Of the visitors
were oisgruntled, and declared most
emphatically that they would give
Europe wide berth for some time
TO come. and travel in their own
country.
Americans who visited Italy and
southern France. especially in tho
spring and early summer, found
hotels and pensions crowded with
German visitors. This created bad
feeling. as a movement for German
relief was on in the United States
at the time, and many Americans were
puzzled by the apparent prosperity
OF Germans living in comfort abroad.
when many OF their fellow country
men were reported to be in dire
want.
Travel in Germany should he more
normal next year. provided there be
no hitch in the execution of the
Dawes Rlan. High prices in Ger
many. especially in the larger cities.
still handicap the tourist business
and there is no indication of a
change in this respect. Berlin has
hnaHy eliminated the tax which was
imposed on the rooms occupied by
foreign guests. but visitors complain
that the local hotels still charge
above world prices.
On the whole. while Europe had a
bonanza tourist season this year, but
1t IS doubtful whether next year will
be as good. Many OF the visitors
went home with the feeling that
London and Paris did not take
proper precautions to insure the
comfort of their visitors. and protect
them against extortionate prices.