FED: Tourism operators warn against cutting work holiday visas

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2009
FED: Tourism operators warn against cutting work holiday visas

The tourism industry says taking the axe to working holiday visas to protect local
jobs during the economic downturn will only backfire.

The warning by the Australian Tourism Export Council comes over concern the government
may be considering restricting the number of working holiday visas as unemployment continues
to rise.

Last year more than 144-thousand people travelled to Australia on the visas.

Most were young backpackers .. the only part of the incoming tourism market not yet
impacted by the economic downturn.

The council's managing director MATT HINGERTY has told a backpacking conference in
Darwin if unemployment hits ten per cent .. both sides of politics will look at restricting
working visas.

But .. he says there will be an uproar from the industry if governments move against
working holiday visas.

AAP RTV sld/rl/wz/crh

KEYWORD: ATEC VISAS (DARWIN)

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