“Major breakthrough” visa reforms

A 10-year multiple entry visa for Chinese nationals is the latest win for Australia’s tourism industry.

The move will ensure the ever-growing Chinese market is enabled to flourish, and is a major breakthrough for the tourism business down under, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF)’s ceo Margy Osmond.

Osmond said the change, announced by the Federal Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb yesterday, will help spur growth in the tourism industry and make Australia more competitive internationally.

“TTF has been leading the campaign for visa reform on behalf of the tourism industry and we wholeheartedly welcome today’s announcement,” she said.

“China is one of our fastest-growing and largest visitor markets and this new visa will make it even easier for Chinese to visit Australia and support our tourism industry.”

Last year alone, we welcomed 858,500 Chinese visitors to our fair country, and these visitors are huge contributors to our national economy.

“These visitors stay in our hotels, shop in our stores and make a huge contribution to our local economy, highlighting the need for decision-makers to place tourism at the heart of economic development strategies,” Osmond added.

The landmark agreement was signed today by the Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb and his counterpart Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

“Chinese travellers are growing exponentially and it is estimated that by 2020, more than 200 million Chinese people will be travelling to destinations including Australia,” Robb said.

“Increased visitor numbers in Australia translates into significant benefits for Australians and our economy. China is our largest source of tourism, already worth over $5 billion to the Australian economy.”

The Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Michaela Cash said this announcement built on the initiatives to realise the enormous potential that exists within the Chinese market.

“In terms of visa volume, processing speed and integrity outcomes, Australia is highly competitive,” Cash said.

“The Government continues to progress the roll-out of online visa lodgements for Chinese nationals, in an effort to reduce unnecessary red whilst at the same time ensuring we maintain the integrity of our visa programmes.”

“It is essential that Australia remains at the cutting edge of innovation and is competitive in attracting tourists from our region – we must not forget that here is immense competition from other destinations.”

In TTF’s recent paper, Visitor Visa Reform: Reducing the Barriers for Travel Australia, the forum called for the extension of multiple entry visas to leisure visitors and to other countries.

“The new visa arrangements announced will make Australia more competitive internationally, with countries including the USA and Singapore already offering 10-year multiple entry visas for Chinese nationals,” Osmond said.

ATEC’s managing director Peter Shelley also commented on the game-changer agreement, saying it will be a major bonus in helping Australian tourism gain greater share of this growing international visitor market.

“The signing of this agreement will give Chinese visitors an even greater impetus to visit Australia and the decision to introduce these ten year visas will bring us in line with other competitor countries including the United States, Canada and Singapore,” Shelley said.
“These changes align us with the new paradigm of international travel where visa processes are becoming more streamlined and consumer friendly, enabling Australia to compete for increased market share of the international tourism dollar.

“This initiative puts Australia back in the game as both an appealing destination and as having a friendly and welcoming visa arrangement which is sure to auger well into the future.”

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