Changes announced today by the Federal Government which will allow working holiday visa holders to stay longer and work more flexibly will help to reinstate Australia as a favoured destination for backpackers.“These changes, coupled with those announced last week to extend the working holiday visa age limit to 35 years of age for Irish and Canadians, will strengthen a long standing avenue of travel for young visitors to Australia,” ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said today.
“Working holiday visas have long been a great way of engaging young visitors and building a relationship with people which often lasts a lifetime and ATEC has been a long standing advocate for changes which support and recognise the value of this market.
“We have also been asking for a lift in the annual caps on the number of visas issued under the Work and Holiday Maker program 462 and we are glad to see the Government has moved on this issue as well.
“These visitors bring far greater engagement with regional Australia and contribute both in terms of labour and skills and through the tax system and spending which have positive flow ons to regional tourism businesses.”
Mr Shelley said the diversity of markets from which Australia derives its visitors has been the backbone of its success.
“We not only need to continue to build awareness with our traditional markets, along with new and emerging markets like China and India, but we must also continue to maintain our appeal across the generations and this move will help to achieve that goal.”
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