Australia's tourism industry responds to gov't work scheme

By Nelson Alcantara l eTN
Australia's tourism industry has praised the Australian government's effort to motivate unemployed Australians to go back to work by taking jobs in regional areas.  
Under the program, jobless Australians are given A$5,000 (US$ 3,810 approx.) to move for work.  In response, the peak industry body representing the A$18 billion inbound tourism sector, Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), has called the scheme "good news for the country's labor-starved tourism industry." 

ATEC managing director Matthew Hingerty welcomed the announcement, saying it could benefit regions such as North Queensland and Western Australia, where labor shortages in the tourism sector were at crisis point.
“The tourism industry is a labor-intensive service sector and for some regional destinations such as resort islands and remote wilderness locations, the inability to attract and retain staff is a huge problem,” Hingerty said.

The ATEC managing director added:  “ATEC has been lobbying in support of actions to open the tourism industry to other labor sources such as allowing foreign guest workers into Australia and extending the Working Holiday Maker scheme to allow backpackers to work for longer.
“We are also lobbying the Department of Immigration to introduce a working holiday type scheme of young people from the US, a hugely untapped market for Australia.”
Hingerty said the government’s plan to get unemployed Australians into work in regional areas would potentially be of significant benefit to the tourism industry.

“Not only will such a scheme allow the industry to secure essential staff, it will provide career opportunities in what is one of Australia’s most significant export industries.”
According to ATEC, Australia directly employs more than 500,000 in the tourism industry.

August 30, 2006   Posted in: Australia