ENG-1963 — Page 299

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TOURISM

Broadcasting Company half-hour production about Hong Kong. Travel writers and sales executives of air and sea carrier com- panies were informed of Hong Kong's tourist attractions through the second edition of the Hong Kong Fact Book and the Colony was represented at the 33rd Annual Travel Congress of the American Society of Travel Agents in Mexico City.

Public relations activities by the Association in Hong Kong included assisting visiting travel writers and photographers, film units, radio commentators, travel agents and tour operators and many other professional promoters. To keep those interested in travel informed about current events in Hong Kong, the Tourist Association's Travel Bulletin and the news letter News Views were mailed to overseas and local contacts at a rate of 11,000 and 600 copies a month respectively. The Association received more than 7,500 letters during 1963 requesting information on the Colony's travel and tourist amenities.

Instructional Courses. The rapid increase in the number of hotels in the Colony has brought about a demand for trained staff and personnel to carry out the variety of duties involved in the hotel and catering industry. To meet the immediate needs of many hotels, the Hong Kong Hotels Association assisted by Government and the International Rescue Committee, which made a generous financial contribution, set up a training school to teach prospective staff some of the aspects of hotel work. A number of students have already qualified and are now employed in hotels in the Colony.

Under the joint sponsorship of the Tourist Association and the Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island West, the University of Hong Kong initiated an extra mural course consisting of a series of lectures dealing with the many aspects of the tourist industry. As an industry which offers good opportunity for future employment, the large number of enrolments for the course is encouraging.

International and Regional Organizations. In order to fulfil its role in the realm of international travel and tourism, Hong Kong is a member of the International Union of Official Travel Organiza- tions, the Pacific Area Travel Association, the British Travel and Holiday Association and the American Society of Travel Agents. IUOTO, with headquarters in Geneva, is officially recognized by the United Nations Organization. In August and September,