Delays to visas impact tourism
INCREASED processing times for foreign visitor visas have tourism operators fearful of missed earnings over the traditionally quiet summer months.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Pip Close said processing times for Chinese and Indian leisure tourists “have not been strong”.
“Many of our tour operators have expressed concern as they are receiving feedback from our key distribution partners in China and India this is affecting business,” she said.
“Our operators are fearful that they will see impacts particularly over Chinese New Year if tourist visas are not processed in a timely manner.
“This could impact our visitor numbers from China and also India going forward, particularly over Chinese New Year and student peak times out of India.
“Our operators are already suggesting that numbers are slightly down on where they would expect to be at this time of year.”
A spokesman from the Department of Home Affairs said the number of visitor visa applications received from Chinese citizens had grown 11 per cent over the past three years while Indian applications had jumped 18 per cent.
In 2017-18, the department finalised more than one million visitor visa applications from Chinese citizens and 300,000 visitor visa applications from Indian citizens.
“The department is well accustomed to seasonal application peaks, such as during the holiday season and for Chinese New Year, and allocates processing resources accordingly,” the spokesman said.
“Some increases in processing times have been driven by the higher proportion of high risk cases across Australia’s visa programs – with applications requiring increased scrutiny.
“In China and India the department has been working hard to keep ahead of these increasing volumes and to maintain a high level of service for visitor visa applicants, through strategies … including refining the information available to applicants and agents about how to submit a complete application and how long before travel applications should be lodged; and working … to encourage … online lodgement.”