No cap imposed on Australian working holiday visas

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The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) recently stressed the importance of the working holiday program to the Australian tourism industry in the current economic climate, in that it provides smaller business operators in more remote areas with a stream of income from backpackers – even if it’s a small one.

Amanda Gripske of the Australian Visa Bureau noted that in spite of economic conditions, there is an increasing number of young travellers from the UK coming to Australia on working holiday visas – taking some time to enjoy the country’s sunshine while they consider their future employment in Britain.

She said: “The recession in the UK and Ireland has given young people the opportunity to take twelve months off while they ride out the storm, and it’s exciting to see that the numbers of Australian working holiday visa grants continue to soar in 2009.”

According to hospitality news provider Thumbrella, Australia’s immigration minister, Chris Evans, made a promise in a letter to ATEC that the government “recognises the important contribution of working holidaymaker visa holders to the tourism industry, as well as industries needing short term casual labour.”

Evans has commented that there have been benefits from restriction skilled migration to Australia and the numbers entering on the 457 temporary visa schemes during the economic downturn, but admits that he realises the value in keeping the working holiday visa program available to younger travellers.

Thanks to www.visabureau.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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