Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
u. S. Tourist Harvest.
Bright for Canada
BY HARDEN CoLFAx.

Although drought is menacing the
returns from Canada's greatest source
of income. agriculture. the harvest from
its second major wealth-producer, the
tourist trafiic. promises to be greater
this year than ever before.
August is the peak month Of tourist
travel in the Dominion. and Monday
will see the beginning of the movement
in strength. The Dominion and provin-
cial governments and municipal bodies
have put special emphasis upon their
advertising campaigns this year, hav-
ing in mind the steadily increasing
business brought by visitors from the
States since 1924, when the first or
ganized efforts TO attract tourists were
launched.
Prospects are that the official budgets
for next year will have even larger
appropriations for the publication and
distribution Of booklets maps and other
descriptive matter. Despite the in
crease this year in the printing appro-
priation for the Dominions national
resources intelligent service. which is
under the department OF the interior,
with headquarters at Ottawa, the Of
ficials IN charge report the demand in
excess of the supply of matter for
prospective visitors.
$500, 100000 Spent in Year.
Canadian officials estimate that tour
lists from the United States spent
5000 900 600 in the Dominion last year,
an income second only to that from
the vast grain and fruit belts and
charged to agriculture. The trafic by
motor. rail and water has been heavier
this year than last.
Recognizing the value of the auto
mobile traff1c. provincial governments
are expediting widening of roadways
on the principal arteries, thus augment
ing the already excellent system or
paved highways.
The effects of the motor traffic may
be seen in increasing measure in vii
lagos as well as cities-tourist camps
and the gasoline and service stations
are being built with almost frantic
haste. Canada has been favorably
accommodations are being increased to
care for tourist business, which, while
heaviest in the Summer. Is also not a
factor to be ignored in the Winter.
The railroads contribute heavily to
the increase In tlurist traffc in Can
ada, which Is not by any means con-
fined to automobile parties. One rail-
road company opened the largest hotei
in Canada here in Toronto less than
two months aoo: another Is completing
In Ottawa an addition to It's hotel, and
the combined investment represented
by these two projects alone Is more
than $l8000,000.
Canada is seeking tourists not only
because Of the money visitors spend in
the Dominion. but because OF the OPP
portunities thus afforded for advertising
her wealth Of resources and opportuni-
ties for investment and for profitable
residence.
Distribution Of Money.
into the Dominion is spread about in
proportion to the population-that Is,
1t is heaviest In the more thickly set
tied central provinces of Ontario and
Quebec. This Is particularly true of
the automobile trafic across the border,
these two provinces being closest to the
congested areas of the United States.
The American Automobile Association
estimates that before the present season
closes, 100000 United States motor
lists in more than 100000 cars will
have entered Canada this year, leaving
in the Dominion some $l87, 000, 900, as
contrasted with $167 zoo, 900 which the
organization estimates such tourists
spent north of the border In 1928.
Canadian figures Of tourist expendi-
lures are somewhat in excess Of those
in the United States, where the De-
partment of Commer69 estimates $237,-
100000 was expendga north Of the
border in 1928. ThG came department
estimates that Canadians visiting the
United States spent $50, 0O00 600 in this
country last year. In order to arrive at
some basis of accuracy in the estimates,
both governments issued questionnaires
to q cross-section Of tourists last year.
The Dominion Bureau of Statistics is
polling q greater number OF tourists
crossing to visit the United States this
year in order to try to get more exact
calculations.
It is known definitely that 3,645, 600
United States automobiles entered Cam
ada during 1928 for pleasure purposes,
this being the number of permits issued
The number this year probably will be
greater than the A. A. A. estimate. of
100000.
(CopyriRht,, 1921