The new Free Trade Agreement between Australia and China has been widely lauded by politicians and business leaders but it will do nothing to boost travel between the two countries, an Australian tourism body says.
The agreement was warmly welcomed by the Australian immigration minister as a real boost for trade and investment and for giving Chinese visitors more access to visas.
However the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) said although it is a breakthrough, it will not make the movement of people between Australia and China any easier.
"Our visa regime for Chinese visitors remains stuck in a time warp while other countries forge ahead with reforms to make it easier for potential visitors," said TTF chief executive officer Margy Osmond.
"Australia is being left behind and reform is needed to help restore Australia’s competitive position. Tourism generates $30 billion in annual export earnings, around 10% of total exports, but we are not fully realising the potential of growing and emerging markets in Asia, including China," she added.
"While the FTA will allow Australian companies to invest in China, it does nothing to remove the barriers for Chinese people who want to visit Australia. Other countries have rightly recognised the massive opportunity presented by China and are taking steps to capitalise on it by removing onerous visa conditions."
TTF recently published a report which showed countries such as the US, Canada and the UK have made it easier for independent travellers from China by launching online applications and reducing processing times.
"The tourism industry generates $100 billion in expenditure every year and directly employs more than 540,000 people, and visa reform would see that economic contribution become even bigger," Osmond said.
