Evening star., 1940-03-17
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.
Travel Editor

WHe1 Europe was Lne place 10
60. thrifty Yankee travellers en-
joyed the fun of stretching their
budgets over extra miles afforded by
odd little devices that nations con-
cocted as pocketbook appeal. Clients
Of tourist agencies, buying their
Old World jaunts over a single
counter as "packaged" tour, bene-
fitted by these rates when they
could be applied, for experts knew
all the ropes hung up by rivals for
the American tourist dollar and
could pass such savings along by
lowering the all-inclusive price. But
the independent lobe-trotter en-
joyed seeking them out and pieced
them together with a great deal
more pride than q youngster Ats a
jigsaw puzzle. It was money in his
pocket.
He learned, for instance, that
France, Italy and Switzerland re-
mitted up to 40 per cent of the rail-
road fare within their borders, pro-
vided the tourist stayed certain
number Of days or took specified
circle" trips. The vanished repub-
lie of Poland also offered such in
ducements. Italy widely publicized
its gasoline coupon system so that
fewer motorists would recoil from
prices that more than tripled signs
on American pumps. Under govern
ment inspiration, Italian hotel men
set rates that were not to rise over
night with chance squirt in de-
mand for rooms. Timing his Allan
tic sailing, the American could avoid
peak season steamship rates, which.
incidentally, prevailed only about
two months in the midsummer.
There were many other ways of
shaving European travel costs. But
all that has passed and now, look
ing over the travel bargain counter
for attractive summer buys, those
vacationists who delight in apply
ing their talents to most-for your
money travel are eying Canada.
The vast, quaint and neighborly
Dominion to the north, wherein
Americans find an atmosphere rem
iniscent Of both old France and
merrie England, has adopted no
rebate tricks with which European
lands bid against one another for
the travel dollar; nor is it likely
to resort to such devices now. In
stead, the disjointing Of foreign ex-
change brought about by the war
which blacked out Europe as q va
cation mecca offers Americans a
premium in Canadian travel far
more spectacular. That is the bar
gain the traveller is studying today.
No travel barriers have been
raised to irk Americans. Canadian
authorities emphasize this. No pass
ports are needed; crossing the bor-
der is done with practically the
same easy informality that pre-
vailed last summer. One is conscious
only of an alertness to detect the
fraud of a foreigner passing him
self of as an American. There are
certain restrictions against taking
money out of the country, but such
regulations touch the affairs of the
usual tourist only In exceptional
cases.
AS for these conditions continuing
during the coming summer, this is
the way the tourist industry has fig-
ured 1t out: Restrictions will not be
tiehtened. The welcome" on the
mat means exactly what 1t says, for
the war across the sea has stepped
up the need for Canada's cash re-
sources. One potent revenue source
of late years has been the export
balance" furnished by tourists from
many lands, principally America.
Travel restrictions would cripple
this industry, which, incidentally,
depletes none of the country's nat
ural resources, In that it sells as
its principal attractions the seem
cry, recreation and cultural inter-
ests.
The forecast Is logical enough,
certainly, to justify proceeding with
plans for q Canadian vacation.
4 \ 4 Il
As for exchange: The Canadian
dollars, tied In with the allied for
tunes Of war, Is decidedly more enig-
matical. The ofiicial exchange rate,
at which the Canadian govern
ment's financial system will either
buy or sell, has placed a premium
Of II per cent on the United States
dollar. In other words, the visitor
can buy, In Canada, II dollars for
each United States SO bill.
The Quebec Provincial Tourist
Bureau, which, in promoting tourist
facilities, is undercover host to
thousands of American travellers an
nually, has inspired q drive to In
form Americans Of the legal rate.
Not only Do banks observe ths satin.