The tourism industry is urging the Home Affairs Department to speed up the processing of tourist visas as some travellers face months-long delays to enter Australia to holiday or see family.Leonora Luff's family in the Philippines has been waiting five months for tourist visas to visit AustraliaWhile there was much fanfare when Australia fully reopened to the world in February, the recovery for tourist operators has been sluggish, with overseas arrivals still far below pre-pandemic levels.
"It is actually damaging our brand not to be able to get those visas out the door as quickly as possible in the most appropriate way."Leonora Luff cannot wait to see her family. They have not heard back from the department and applicants are unable to check on the status of their application."The stress to the family, the emotional toll and the psychological toll, it can be unbearable," she said.The Home Affairs Department said it had experienced a 427 per cent increase in visitor visa holders since the border was partially reopened to some travellers in November last year.
Many operators, such as BridgeClimb in Sydney, which runs the iconic Harbour Bridge climbing tour, are yet to see pre-pandemic numbers of foreign tourists return."We couldn't keep going at this rate for an elongated period of time," chief executive Deb Zimmer said.
“Australia's tourism sector is facing a $12B black hole because the Chinese visitor market has evaporated” $12 Billion lost Revenue is big bickies. How much was lost due to international border closures? Must be near $150 Billion? That’s on top of $343 Billion pandemic cost!
Forget the visas Aussies can't even get a passport..the wait is something you would expect in a 4th world country.. WTF Who let the public service so understaffed
not everyone wants tourist's driving up prices crowding out locals & lining the greedy pockets of AirB&B scalpers
Australia will lose its tourism revenue I have applied on March 2022 for visitor visa 600 class still no respond.. cancelled all my bookings a loss of AUD 3000
Just had to return to Australia alone and leave wife and children behind. They have had tourist visas before so no justification in delay. Lodged 9th May and no way of asking what is happening. Visa system is broken.
I don't care. Overseas visitors will just have to wait. Tough titties.
The public service has been hammered during the pandemic and people want them to hurry up and let in people 🙄 how about making sure appropriate checks are done first
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