THE landmark Australia-China free trade agreement (ChAFTA), announced earlier this week when negotiations concluded between Australian prime minister Tony Abbott and Chinese president Xi Jinping, looks set to be a major boost for tourism Down Under in years to come.
When the ChAFTA is fully implemented, 95 per cent of Australian exports to China will be tariff-free while Australian service providers in sectors such as banking, tourism, education and healthcare will gain greater access to the Chinese market.
The Federal Government has announced that Australia would grant visas for up to 5,000 Chinese work and holidaymakers annually. In addition, up to 1,800 skilled Chinese workers, including chefs and Mandarin-language tutors, would be eligible to apply for ‘457’ work visas.
Commenting on the changes to the visa arrangements, acting CEO for Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), Carol Giuseppi, said that the timing of the announcement was particularly important.
“Australia is undergoing the largest expansion of its hotel sector in over 20 years, with new hotel developments across the country, so it will be beneficial to have access to a pool of labour to work in both existing and new hotels,” said Giuseppi.
“Their availability will come at a time of record growth in Chinese inbound travel and will cater for the many hotel groups seeking Mandarin-speaking staff. The allocation of more ‘457’ visas to chefs will particularly address a shortage of skilled labour in hotel F&B operations.
Giuseppi said that other changes announced as part of the ChAFTA would also benefit the industry.
“Australia’s hotel and tourism sector will benefit from increased investment via the new Investment Facilitation Arrangements, while education-related travel to Australia will be significantly boosted as a result of new measures announced as part of the agreement,” she added.
At the same time, Giuseppi also urges the authorities to review the visa application process “to make it easier and cheaper for Chinese travellers to visit Australia”.
“While TAA applauds the government’s positive initiatives, the hospitality sector would benefit even further if the Working Holiday Visa programme was extended from 12 months to 24 months duration, with a corresponding increase in the working portion of this from six months to 12 months,” she commented.
“To meet the shortage of workers in the hospitality sector, we would also call on the government to allow Working Holiday Visa holders who meet the criteria for extending their stay by working in a regional area, to be able to spend their second six-month working stint working in a city-based tourism business.”
