The Government is being urged to protect the flow of Working Holiday Makers (WHM) and to recognise them as high-value international visitors.
The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) says uncertainty and delays over visa processing is putting tourism businesses, regional economies and future visitor demand at risk.
“Working Holiday Makers are not simply temporary workers. They are high-value, long-stay international visitors who work, travel and spend across Australia,” said Margy Osmond, TTF CEO.
“They stay in our hotels and hostels, eat at our restaurants and cafes, take tours, use transport, visit regional communities and spend money in local businesses. Their contribution extends well beyond the job they may take while they are here.”
Tourism Research Australia data shows international Working Holiday Makers spent approximately $1.1 billion in regional Australia in 2025, representing 20 per cent of all international visitor spending in regional Australia.
They also spent $3.3 billion in Australia’s capital cities, accounting for 10 per cent of international visitor expenditure in those destinations.
TTF is increasingly concerned about recent changes to WHM visa processing arrangements, including slowing processing times for Working Holiday (subclass 417) visas and the pause on Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa applications from 24 capped partner countries.
Tourism Australia research also shows that the value of these visitors can extend well beyond their initial stay, with 88 per cent of WHMs likely to consider returning to Australia, including 66 per cent who are extremely likely to return.
“That is an extraordinary pipeline of guaranteed future visitors,” Ms Osmond said.
“We should be asking how we can make Australia an easier and more attractive destination for these travellers, not creating uncertainty that risks sending them somewhere else.
“Every prospective Working Holiday Maker who decides Australia is too difficult, too uncertain or too slow is a potential visitor who may instead spend their money in another country.”
TTF recognises that this uncertainty also comes at a difficult time for tourism, transport and regional businesses, which are already managing higher costs and economic pressures.
“For tourism businesses, predictability matters. They need to know whether visitors will arrive, whether they will be able to fill seasonal roles and whether they can plan with confidence for their busiest periods. An unpredictable flow of Working Holiday Makers makes all those things harder.”
TTF is calling on the Federal Government to maintain timely and predictable WHM visa processing, provide greater visibility around what is driving current changes and ensure future policy settings recognise the contribution WHMs make as visitors, consumers, workers and regional travellers.
“Visa policy is tourism policy. If we want to grow Australia’s visitor economy, support regional communities and keep tourism businesses viable, we need to make sure the WHM program is working with industry, not inadvertently working against it.”
