One tourism business is urging the New Zealand government to raise the age limit for working holiday visas.
It believes it could significantly boost inbound tourism long stays.
The age for the working holiday visa is currently at 35.
One Auckland business is calling for it to be raised to 50 years.
This visa allows travellers from select countries to work, travel and study in New Zealand for up to 12 months.
Citizens from Canada and the UK can stay longer on this visa.
The tourism industry says working holiday visa applications have been in decline in recent years.
Tim Alpe, MD of the LyLo hostel in Auckland, says raising the age limit for the visa would boost tourism.
“If we raised the age, we’d be very unique. I think there’d be really good demand for people wanting to do their overseas experience somewhat later in life, or do it again,” Alpe said.
According to Alpe, each annual working holiday visa adds about $60,000 to the economy in tourism related revenue.
“I don’t see what the risk is for us. We are desperate to open ourselves up and get tourism back to being the major export earner.”
He says there is general tourism industry support for the idea.
