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Warning on migrant cuts
TRAVELCONSUMERDAILY.COM THE Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has urged political parties the exercise caution in responding to the current Australian political fashion of cutting the immigration intake. ATEC said both sides of politics should consider the full economic consequences of restricting future international student visa numbers, citing a new report which shows more than 80% of all international students also attract at least one other overseas visitor to Australia during their stay. ATEC managing director Matt Hingerty said the International Education Visitation - Tourism Opportunities report, published earlier this year by Australia’s Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC), showed that the ramifications of cutting student visas were not fully understood by either side of politics and urged further industry consultation on the issue. Mr Hingerty said the report – the first comprehensive tourism study of international students and their visiting friends and relatives – showed education was a vital component of Australia's $A26 billion inbound tourism sector, with more than 70% of student-visa holders expecting at least two friends and two or more family members to visit them in Australia. "Australian tourism businesses are just emerging from one of the most challenging trading periods in recent memory, having to deal with the global financial crisis, a high dollar, a shortage of labour and increased competition from overseas tourism destinations," Mr Hingerty said. "Right now these operators more than ever need the custom of not only the international student market but also their associated visiting friends and relatives. "ATEC looks forward post-election to explaining to both sides of politics that decreasing the number of international students will adversely impact upon the inbound tourism industry," Mr Hingerty said.
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