Australian Tourism Export Council Urges Expansion Of Working Holiday Visas To Cover Tourism And Hospitality Jobs

The proposal arises as the Federal Government reviews Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa settings as part of its Regional Migration Settings Review. According to the council, Working Holiday Maker visa holders play a crucial role in Australia's tourism industry, helping address significant regional workforce shortages.

ATEC's recommendations advocate for maintaining the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa as a cultural exchange program that combines travel with regional employment while proposing to limit the qualifying period for both 2nd and 3rd year visas to 88 days.

“Our recent member survey highlighted WHM visitors' critical role in Australia's tourism economy. Half of the businesses view them as essential employees, and over half consider them a crucial visitor market,” said ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley.

“Although long-term employment isn’t the primary goal of the WHM visa, the survey also revealed a strong preference among tourism businesses to employ WHMs for at least six months due to the significant investment in training.”

ATEC's submission suggests including tourism in the list of ‘specified work’ for all regional areas in Australia to qualify for the 2nd and 3rd-year visas, enabling WHMs to work and travel throughout regional Australia. Additional recommendations include:

• Reducing the qualifying period for the 3rd year visa extension to 88 days.
• Raising the maximum age limit to 35 across all countries.
• Offering a second WHM visa to those under 30 who have spent four years outside Australia.
• Consider an increase in the age limit to 40 or 45 to capture the growing ‘digital nomad’ and ‘career breaker’ trends.
• Allocating an additional $5 million annually to Tourism Australia to promote WHM travel and work across Australia.
• Implementing targeted marketing to encourage regional dispersal of WHMs, addressing the impact of recent changes to the UK WHM visa.
• Developing technology solutions for job vacancy listings, requiring employers to register to enhance transparency and accountability.

“The WHM visa is a cornerstone of Australia’s tourism export strategy. ATEC believes these targeted improvements will enhance regional dispersal and boost visitor yield, benefiting regional economies,” Shelley added.

For those considering a stay in Australia's major cities or regions, short-stay accommodation options, such as Corporate Housing Melbourne, offer flexible and convenient housing solutions. These options provide essential support for WHM visa holders, allowing them to settle comfortably while contributing to Australia's tourism and hospitality sectors.

“We eagerly anticipate the Government’s response to our recommendations and look forward to advancing the success of our 50-year-old WHM program.”