Holiday visa changes
Visa changes recommended to boost backpacker tourism in Queensland:
New research (by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC)) exploring strategies to boost backpacker tourism in Australia has recommended the introduction of new short-term working holiday visas for Queensland’s international students on completion of their studies. Researchers have estimated that nationally these students represent a potential new market that surpasses the more than half a million backpackers who presently visit Australia each year.
Researchers have also proposed changes to the conditions of the existing Working Holiday Maker Visa which is secured by a significant proportion of international backpackers. In 2007-08 visitors using these visas were estimated to be worth $1.8 billion to the national economy. The suggested changes include the ability to extend the visas and a reduction in required working hours.
