Indian tourist visa delays cost a $500m blow to Australia’s tourism industry says report

The approval time for tourist visas (subclass 600) has lengthened from 14 days in 2015 to nearly 49 days in 2018, adversely impacting the business of tourism operators across the country, claims Australia’s Tourism Export Council (ATEC).

One new community COVID-19 case recorded in NSW as authorities hunt mystery source of infection. Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Increasing processing times for Indian visitor visas is costing Australia’s Tourism Industry $500 million a year, according to a report released by Australia’s Tourism Export Council (ATEC).

The approval time for tourist visas (subclass 600) has lengthened from 14 days in 2015 to nearly 49 days in 2018, adversely impacting the business of tourism operators across the country, claims ATEC.

“When visas are delayed it has a knock on effect to dozens of tourism businesses across Australia from hotel bookings to transfers, tour experiences and flights and this is notable because Indian visitors consume much more bookable tourism product than many markets,” said Pater Shelly, Managing Director, ATEC.

 

Approval time for tourist visas (subclass 600) has lengthened from 14 days in 2015 to nearly 49 days in 2018-ATEC Source: Getty Images

Over recent years, India has emerged as the fastest growing tourism market for Australia, but the delay in granting visas is not only scorching the country’s tourism sector but at the same time is bucking a trend where tourists have started to look for other locations with faster visa systems, said Edwin Kwan, the Executive Director of Wel-Travel, a wholesale inbound tourist operator.

“The uncertainty is making everyone cautious because you just can’t be sure your Indian visitor is going to get their visa on time and in some cases, we have cancelled sections of itineraries only to go back and try to rebook once the visa is finally granted,” said Mr Kwan.

While the Department of Home Affairs website says 90 per cent of tourist visas are taking up to 29 days to process, Subhash Khattar, a travel agent based in the northern Indian state of Punjab told SBS Punjabi that it's taking a lot longer than that for most of his clients.

“One of my clients filed his visa application on October 27^th. He still has not received any intimation from the Department whatsoever.”

“He was supposed to attend his friend’s wedding in Melbourne on December 11^th so now even if he gets his visa to say in the next few days, what’s the point?,” added Mr Khattar.

An Indian tourist (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) Source: AAP

Peak industry group, Tourism and Transport Forum’s CEO Margy Osmond told SBS Punjabi that any sort of delay beyond the specified time frame is completely “unacceptable.”

“By discouraging such people to come here on a single leisured visit we are also denying ourselves the opportunity to gain from a whole lot of other sources of revenue that stretch far beyond the mainstream, tourism industry, for instance, the investment opportunity, or the potential to sell Australian products,” said Ms Osmond.

“The government needs to urgently review its visa approval policies to ensure we do not miss on this potential opportunity,” she added.

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