BYTAP advocacy ahead of Jobs & Skills Summit
Dear Minister, I write to you on behalf of the Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) regarding the forthcoming Jobs & Skills Summit. Having reviewed the Jobs & Skills Summit Issues Paper, we note [...]
BYTAP Welcomes Prime Minister Albanese’s Government
The Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) congratulates Prime Minister Albanese and welcomes the new Australian government at a critical time for the youth tourism sector. It is timely that as Prime Minister Anthony [...]
The Budget Brings Welcome News to Youth Tourism
The announcement in yesterday’s budget of a 30% increase in the number of Work and Holiday (WH) visas available for 2022-2023 has been welcomed by the youth tourism sector, who have begun welcoming travellers back [...]
BYTAP writes to the Hon. Alex Hawke MP, requesting an extension of the visa fee waiver for WHM’s.
With the Working Holiday Maker visa fee waiver expiring next month, BYTAP felt it was important to send a letter to the Hon. Alex Hawke MP and Hon. Dan Tehan MP seeking an extension until [...]
Perceptions of Australia’s Working Holiday Maker Program
BYTAP welcomes the release of this Flinders University report (commissioned by Austrade) demonstrating the value of this vital cultural exchange scheme. The report that was released on 14th February 2022 summarised five ways Working Holiday [...]
Youth Tourism Welcomes the Return of Working Holiday Makers
The Prime Minister’s announcement this morning signalling the return of Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) from December 1 has been welcomed by the youth tourism sector who have been heavily impacted since borders closed early last [...]
Youth Tourism Welcomes Border Reopen
Australia’s youth tourism industry group, BYTAP welcomed news today that New South Wales (NSW) will remove hotel quarantine for all fully vaccinated travellers through the gateway of Sydney from November 1. BYTAP spokesperson Wendi Aylward [...]
BYTAP commends Working Holiday Maker visa changes to support tourism & hospitality in Northern & remote areas of Australia
Upcoming changes to the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program will provide more support to the tourism and hospitality sectors still recovering from the disruptions of COVID-19. WHM visa holders working in the tourism and hospitality [...]
BYTAP concerned re number of Working Holiday Makers
ABC Mildura-Swan Hill By Kellie Hollingworth 1 June 2021 Key points: With international borders still shut, backpacker hostel operators are selling up Farmers may find it harder to attract labour if accommodation options dry up Governments are being [...]
BYTAP Submission – Reimagining the Visitor Economy
On 11th June, BYTAP delivered a letter to Mr Martin Ferguson AM, Chair of Reimagining the Visitor Economy Expert Panel. It begins with... Dear Mr Ferguson, We write to you on behalf of the [...]
BYTAP welcomes UK Working Holiday Maker visa changes
Photo credit: PA WIRE BYTAP commends the Australian and UK Governments’ announcement on 16 June 2021 regarding changes to Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas for nationals of both countries as part of a new [...]
BYTAP wants the Australian government to establish a quarantine program to allow working holidaymakers back into the country
Buying a backpacker hostel during a pandemic is not an obvious investment choice, but a Victorian couple are hoping they can make it work. When COVID-19 left Adam Mair facing the prospect of moving to [...]
BYTAP supports Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector
On May 4th 2021, BYTAP sent a submission to the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee formed by the Parliament of Victoria. The letter which was addressed to Patrick O’Brien, the Committee Manager can be [...]
Working Holiday Makers encouraged to work in tourism
BYTAP welcomes the Australian government’s announcement regarding visas, to encourage international students & Working Holiday Makers to work in tourism & hospitality. Media clips from Home Affairs website and SBS below: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/AlexHawke/Pages/support-for-australian-tourism-and-hospitality.aspx https://www.sbs.com.au/news/international-students-will-no-longer-face-a-cap-on-working-hours-for-hospitality-and-tourism-jobs
Australia international border closure: Contiki domestic trips lure young travellers
Young Australians are ditching their rite-of-passage plans for big overseas trips and spending their savings discovering their own backyard. The youth travel giant Contiki has launched a series of sell-out trips around Australia for the [...]
Full report on the youth tourism industry survey
One year on and the impacts of COVID-19 linger despite vaccinations, domestic marketing initiatives and the promise of international travel bubbles. With no clear roadmap until international borders reopen, many businesses across the inbound youth [...]
One-in-five youth tourism business expect to close
Source: The Courier Mail - Matthew Killoran One in five Queensland youth tourism businesses expect to close when JobKeeper ends, while more than 60 per cent say their future is uncertain the results of a [...]
Nation-wide survey demonstrates devastating impact on Australia’s youth tourism industry post JobKeeper
MEDIA STATEMENT 17 March 2021 For immediate release Australia’s peak body representing the inbound youth tourism industry calls on government as a matter of urgency to act now to protect the future of Australia’s youth [...]
BYTAP nominated in The Global Youth Travel Awards
The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) formally recognise outstanding performers in across several fields of international youth travel and reward WYSE Travel Confederation members and other stakeholders in the youth, student and educational travel [...]
BYTAP supports the final report for the review into the Working Holiday Maker program
The Joint Committee on Migration has released it's final report for the inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program. BYTAP supports the recommendations of their report and their comments around the importance of the Working [...]
BYTAP supports recommendations made in the Interim Report of the Inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program
In September, the Joint Committee on Migration decided to produce an interim report for the inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program because of the urgent need to address the substantial labour shortages Australia’s agricultural [...]
Joint Media Release – BYTAP and NFF
Farmers have teamed up with the tourism sector to call for a controlled and COVID-safe restart of the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) Program. In pre-COVID times, backpackers could make up to 80% of a farm’s [...]
NFF is also working with the Backpacker and Youth Tourism Advisory Panel to develop a ‘COVIDsafe pathway’ proposal.
The NFF is also working with the Backpacker and Youth Tourism Advisory Panel to develop a ‘COVIDsafe pathway’ proposal which would allow working holiday makers from countries with low infection rates to enter Australia in [...]
BYTAP Submission – Working Holiday Maker Program
On June 24th, The Joint Standing Committee on Migration launched an inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure it is working effectively to support the tourism, health care and agriculture sectors during the [...]