TOURISM SECTOR BOOSTED BY MIGRATION CHANGES TO FILL SKILLS SHORTAGES, ATTRACT VISITORS

Australia’s tourism industry has welcomed significant changes to Australia’s migration system, announced today by the Federal Government, which will better address critical skills shortages and encourage the sector’s growth.

Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia CEO Margy Osmond said the Migration Strategy marked major progress, but acknowledged some areas require further development in relation to regional migration and international students, who are a critical part of the tourism workforce.

“Changes to the international student visa will have to be closely monitored to ensure there isn’t further pain for the tourism industry, which is still in recovery,” Ms Osmond said.

“And further work is needed to address shortages of lower-paid workers in some roles below $70,000, as many smaller tourism and hospitality operators are still struggling to find Australian workers to fill these positions.”

“We also look forward to working with the Government on its ongoing review of regional migration settings and the working holidaymaker visa due next year, to ensure tourism operators have a sufficient supply of workers, particularly in regional areas.”

Ms Osmond said overall, the sector feels extremely positive about the potential of the strategy to help support tourism, by providing a clear pathway to attracting skilled workers to help deliver a world-class visitor experience.

“This is significant progress towards attracting the skilled workers we desperately need to encourage tourism and help Australia compete in one of the most competitive global tourism markets we’ve ever seen,” she said.

“We congratulate the Federal Government for successfully engaging with industry on this policy, and introducing changes to reform a migration system that has not been fit for purpose.”

“By scrapping the out-of-date occupation lists and introducing a new specialist skills pathway for jobs that pay above $135,000, Australia will be better placed to attract top executive and management talent, helping tourism, transport and aviation operators compete for skilled workers from around the globe.”

“We also welcome the commitment to better long-term migration planning, which will enable better coordination with the states and territories on housing and infrastructure planning.”

“Also, the introduction of a new four-year visa and faster processing commitments is particularly welcome. This will make it quicker and easier for tourism operators to bring in the skills they need, further supporting the growth of our sector as we respond to changing market conditions and seasonal demand.”

ENDS