The Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) of Australia has cooperated with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) on a new report about the economic contribution of Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) to regional Australia. The report, Regional Impacts of Working Holiday Makers, describes WHMs high levels of spend benefitting local economies throughout Australia and the importance of the segment’s mobility and flexibility for industries in the country needing seasonal help. BYTAP provided comment to the Australian government as part of a review of regional migration, offering insights on certain aspects of the existing visa scheme and concerns about exploitation and labour shortages. Innovations that could potentially benefit backpackers, regional tourism and employers alike were also suggested by BYTAP.

Read the report and BYTAP commentary here.