Population debate not to affect Australian tourism
by Christine M - April 23, 2010
Australia, 23rd April: The population debate in Australia has nothing to do with Australian tourism, the head of tourism council in Australia has clarified.
Australian tourism industry is dependent upon the tourists arriving in Australia.
Speaking in one of the biggest Australian tourism conference in Hobart, Matt Hingerty, Managing director of Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), said that the ongoing debate on the issue of overwhelming population in Australia must not be confused with the number of Australian working holiday makers.
Speaking at the ATEC Backpackers and Youth Industry Conference, Hingerty said that tourists are of great value for Australia and the country needs them at all times. Hence, it’s his job to ensure that the current population debate should not, in any way, affect number of Australian Working Holiday makers and other tourists likely to come to Australia in the near future.
Australian economy receives huge revenue from tourists coming to Australia. A backpacker staying for a period of six months in Australia spends nearly $25,000 towards different expenses. And this money is circulated in those regional and remote centers of Australia where it is most needed, added Mr. Hingerty.
Australians can never allow the backpackers or overseas working holiday makers to be included in the population debate because without the backpacker industry, one could not imagine Brisbane, Sydney, St. Kilda, Darwin and Cairns or the Gold Coast.
The nation has been in the heat of several debates and discussions regarding increasing population in Australia which is going to reach 35 million by the year 2050 as per the forecast by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
No doubt, Australians do not favor any further increase in its population caused by several reasons including high rates of Australian immigration.
The common fears among Australians include poor impact of soaring population on basic infrastructure and on quality-of-life of the people as well.
The debate is not about immigration but about whether or not high levels of immigration in Australia need to be controlled.
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