Evening star., 1950-01-01

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packages" have been offered for
some time by Colonial and Pan
American, whose planes also serve
Bermuda. Rates vary according
to the hotel or guest house
selected. On each Of the three
airlines, the package" can be ar
ranged for passage one way by
sea on the famous Queen of
Bermuda.
Why France Jams Up-Ameri-
can tourists who wonder why
hotel accommodations in Europe
are hard to come by in the high
season" can get their answer in
the tourism figures for France
during 1949. The totals were re-
leased yesterday by the French
National Tourist Office. and show
2,700,000 foreign travellers visited
France last year.
Several months ago the Note
book had occasion to mention
that Americans were potent but
by no means an overwhelming
factor in Europe'S tourism. 1t
came somewhat as surprise to
those who believed Americans lit
orally "took over" the Old World
during most of the travel season.
The latest figures disclose that
travellers from the United States
and Canada formed less than one
tenth Of Frances nearly 100000
visitors for 1949.
About 250,000 Americans
streamed into France. which is
the Old Worlds chief drawing
card. Henry Ingrand, French
high commissioner of tourism,
drew three conclusions from
1949's statistics: First, they
"smothered the myth" that only
millionaires can afford vacations
abroad; second, 1949's visitors saw
not only Paris and the Riviera
but every corner of France, and
third, they came earlier than in
other years and stretched the sea-
son deep into autumn.
Tourist Regulations-With Italy
this year drawing persons who
never have been abroad before, al
well as veteran travellers, a re.
capitulation of the customs ane
foreign exchange regulations i!
considered pertinent. Here are
the salient points:
Visas: None required of Ameri-
can pleasure tourists for the frs
80 days. AS of now, permits tc
stay in Italy are required within
three days after arrival. This il
usually taken care of by hotel.
and boarding houses when for.
eigners register.
Customs: In general, incoming
travellers will be permitted te
bring in duty free everything con.
tanned in their personal luggage
This can include new clothing ane
travel souvenirs, provided thu
value Of the goods purchased dur.
ing their trip does not exceee
$400. The amount of new clothins
brought in should be in keeping
with the social condition of thu
traveller. The customs agent de
termines this.
/ (Note: The $4oo allowance is
in line with easier border for
malities approved recently by
the Organization for European
Economic Cooperation. In
! brief. tourists may enter any
Marshall Plan country with up
to $400 of souvenirs and
purchases, including limited
amounts Of perfume. liquor and
cigarettes).
/ Cigarettes: Duty charged on al
cigarettes brought in above 400
Purchases in Italy: Tourists car
export up to $400 of material pur'
chased In Italy provided 1t fall!
in the category Of souvenirs. most.
ly products Of the Italian handi.
craft industry. AS a rule, travel.
ers must prove the material wa!
purchased with foreign exchange
legally sold through regular chan.
nels.
Radios: Portable radios can be
taken in duty free, one per pas.
senger. Radio in Italy is a gov
ernment monopoly, however, anc
all receiving set owners must pay
a fee for a license. Otherwise
the set is subject to confscation
Licenses for sets can be obtained
at any post Office.
Autos: Cars may be taken ir
under international regulations.
Money and Foreign Exchange
Controls: Like other European
countries, Italy maintains. foreign
exchange controls. Foreign trav.
elers can bring into Italy any
amount of foreign currency, but
cannot take out more thar
they brought in. Travellers are
handed. when entering. a form tc
fill in, which is signed by the Gus
toms officer and returned to them
This form is proof that they
brought in the foreign exchange.