Evening star., 1941-08-17
BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.,

Travel Editor.
Steps to facilitate and increase the
enjoyment of travel in the Americas
will be taken when government rep
resentatives of the 81 republics meet
next month in Mexico City to con-
slider problems of hemisphere tour
ing. While the agenda is chiefly
technical, concerning itself with
perfection of machinery to promote
tourism. the nations and the indus
try realize that the measures even
tually must be reflected in benefits
to the travellers themselves. So some
of the aids to be derived from the
Inter-American Travel Congress are
hidden behind moves to create spe-
cial boards of tourism in each coun-
try. to establish an Inter American
Federation of Hotel Associations
and the like. But many topics are
of immediate interest, in that they
holF promise of specific, tangible
benefits. Among these items are
those to exempt certain goods from
customs duties and to issue a tour.
ist card good in each Of the Pam
American republics.
Object Of the customs proposal Is
to permit. in citing one case, the
traveller from the United States to
indulge his taste for artisan crafts
in the countries he visits. If this
convention were adopted and re-
celved favorable consideration on
Capitol Hill. tourists would not be
forced to limit their duty-free pur-
chases to the sum of sl00. Souve-
nirs-hard- wrought silver. baskets,
mats and rugs, mantillas and mate
rial of that type-would be cleared
without duty, in addition to s100
worth of other goods. The meeting
will specify the goods recommended
for such special clearance.
The universal tourist card is a
dream of long standing, having been
put forward as a convention at the
Inter-American session at Monte
video several years ago. The idea
was adopted by only a few nations
prior to the outbreak of the present
war, which virtually suspended any
move to liberalize passport regula-
tions.
Among other items to be taken
up by the Mexico City meeting are: !:
!. Preservation of national touris-
tic resources.
2. Concessions to build tourist
centers in zones of Federal property.
3. Facilities for the creation and
development of other tourist centers
and entertainments.
4. Special permits for visiting
yachts, and for the temporary i'm
portation of airplanes, automobiles
and other vehicles of tourists.
5. Completion of the Pan-Ameri-
can highway.
6. Uniformity of rates for accom-
modations.
7. Reasonable reductions in rates
for accommodations during off,
seasons.
8. Location of automobile service
stations, railway depots. sea and air
ports; improvement Of their services.
8. Adequate and comprehensive
organization of emergency services
in case of accidents.
10. Correlating the several types
of transportation.
IL. Training of tourist guides and
personnel of travel services.
IL. Hotel credit facilities.
13. Development of sources Of
travel information.
IA. Compilation of a calendar OF
fiestas and other events calculated
to attract travellers.
Is. Adoption of the Inter -Ameri-
can Album for the Traveller.
16. Adoption of an Inter-Ameri-
can travel motto.
II. Facilities for the exchange of
currency and travellers checks at
bank rates, and remittance Of funds.
From New Mexico comes a move
that may affect q number Of tourist
attractions in Washington-a sug-
gestion to Secretary Of Interior
Ickes that historic shrines be kept
open "a hours day, at least II, to
promote national unity In the
present emergency.
In letter to Mr.. Ickes, Gov. John
E. Miles said: Visitors returning
from trips through Eastern States
have advised me that many of our
historic shrines, which are symbolic
of the liberty of our country, are
open only a few hours each day. In
several cases, these visitors have
arrived few minutes after closing
time, and were denied the privilege
of entering these historic places"
Gov. Miles letter particularly
mentioned the Liberty Bell in
Philadelphia as having deep
significance in the hearts of all
Americans" but should the move
ment become general as tonic for
morale, it no doubt would embrace
a number of patriotic attractions in
and near the Nations Capital, such
as the Washington Monument and
Mount Vernon. He pointed out that
while many such shrines are not
under the direct control Of the
SeesstAE1- & Mt1Ti0, ~. Iek9s'