Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-18
TOURISTS TURNING
TO PAN-AMER|CA
Conference Delegates Told
Need of Good Roads
by A. A. A.

Delegates to the Fourth Pan American
Commercial Conference were told last
week that the tide Of tourist travel has
definitely turned toward Central and
South America, and were urged to
formulate a program for the sale OF
their recreational assets to a travel
minded world.
The address. which was one of the
highlights of the third day of the con-
ference, was delivered by Elmer jenkins,
manager of the National Touring Bu-
reau of the American Automobile Asso-
citation.
World Travel Expenditures.
Citing the fact that expenditures for
world travel now amount to $500, 000,-
600 annually. and outlining all phases
of comprehensive travel development
address dealt at length with the travel
appeal of the countries to the South,
the economics of recreational travel, the
competition for the tourist dollar and
the present drawbacks of the pam
American nations in meeting the world
wide competition.
Estimating that the travel bill for
those who now turn to the Central and
South American countries for recreation
amounts to $200,000,00 annually. and
pointing specifically to what Mexico and
Cuba are doing to attract travel by
building highways and eliminating Gus
toms barriers, he said
Mexico and Cuba Examples.
Those of us concerned with travel in
all its phases are not unmindful of the
fact that Mexico and Cuba are but ex-
ampleS Of what is taking place in the
other pan-American countries. But bear
in mind that 5000 100000 is a mere drop
in the bucket to what you should re-
ceive in the way of tourist revenue when
all your resources are taken into con-
sideration'
Comparing these travel expenditures
with the foreign trade of the pan
American countries Mr.. jenkins point
ed out that they equaled one-third of
the value of the export trade with the
United States in 1880, which amounted
to $500, 100000"
With reference to the world COMPETE
ton for tourist patronage, the A. A. A.
official paid a tribute to one way in
which the pan-American countries are
meeting this competition. He continued:
Leadership Of DIR. Rowe.
Under the leadership of DR.. L. S.
Rowe, director-general of the Pam
American Union, you have placed here
in Washington a fine collection of
photographs and information I have
frequently heard magazine editors, in
search of pictures or data with regard
to some pan-American country, praise
this storehouse of material that you
have created and the courteous way in
which their requirements are satisfied.
You are to be congratulated on the
splendid work the Pan-American Union
is doing In this direction"
In candid discussion of factors mill
tating against the development of the
travel industry in n-America, Mr..
jenkins said:
THE greatest single drawback to
travel in your countries has been the
inadequacy Of transportation. This is
particularly true as regards modern
highways. The traveller of today may
use the steamship or the airplane, but
he Is definitely welded to travelling part
of the time, at least. under his own
power. 1t was the motor age that
brought about this era of world travel,
and until your nations have made DOS :
sible motorized transport through high
ways you will not reap the fullest bene-
fits from the travel currents that are
touching your shores"