A Herald Sun report says that although thousands have headed overseas this European summer, new figures show a record number of overseas backpackers are flocking to Australia, with Immigration Department figures showing Australia is on track to issue a record 130,000 working holiday visas in the 2006-7 financial year, up by 15 per cent.
A record 551,000 spent $2.8 billion here last year, according to the latest International Visitor Survey, with Victoria having the biggest growth, at 16 per cent.
Most working holidaymakers are from the UK, followed by South Korea and Germany, but the biggest growth is coming from countries new to the reciprocal working holiday visa scheme, such as Taiwan and Estonia.
The figures prove Australia is bouncing back from the backpacker slump of the early 2000s, Backpacker Tourism Advisory Panel chairman Julian Ledger said, adding, “It’s a relief, because backpackers are an important investment in future tourism, as they often come back and become lifelong fans of Australia.”
Most working holidaymakers take up regional harvest work, city office jobs or hospitality work, Mr Ledger said.
Scottish backpacker Iain Wood, 24, is planning the best of both worlds during his time in Melbourne, with after arriving in April, Mr Wood worked as a recruitment consultant for three months and plans to go fruit-picking over the summer.
“I always wanted to see Australia and experience what Australia had to offer,” he said. “It’s quite possible I’ll come back.” “I’ve been lucky enough to visit a lot of places around the world, and Melbourne is definitely one of the best cities I’ve been to.”
Report by The Mole
