Adventure Tourism Victoria welcomes Free Trade Agreement between Australia and United Kingdom

Adventure Tourism Victoria has welcomed the news that tourists from the United Kingdom - aged up to 35 years old, on working holiday visas - will be able to live and work in Australia for up to three years.

Adventure Tourism Victoria (ATV) sees the emergence of a new market of 30 - 35 year olds as a huge opportunity for the tourism industry.

Agreed by Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Scott Morrison, the working holiday visas will allow Australians to work and travel in the United Kingdom (and UK nationals to work and travel in Australia) when international borders reopen.

ATV President Alex Hill notes "Victoria is undoubtedly an incredible destination for international visitors to both visit and work in and ATV members will benefit from both the increased numbers in the workforce, as well as tourism visitor numbers. We invite industry consultation on the impact of removing farmwork as a condition of the extended visa and look forward to hearing more about the agricultural visa.

“International youth tourism is Australia's largest international visitor economy and we support any action that makes working holiday visas to Australia as attractive as possible to international tourists."

“We again call on the Federal Government to put forward a roadmap of when border restrictions will be eased so that businesses can plan for the future.”

ATV works to provide support, training and networking opportunities for its members, but its current focus is on advocacy following the intense tourism challenges of 2020 – namely the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

ATV is a not-for-profit organisation representing the youth and adventure tourism market in Victoria, which was established in 2018.

With more than 40 members made up of tour operators, accommodation providers, travel agents, booking platforms and attractions, ATV advocates for the prosperity of Victorian tourism businesses.