Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

‘Two Countries, One Visa’ – Time to Get Moving

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Saturday, 23 April 2016

‘Two Countries, One Visa’ – Time to Get Moving on Permanent Trans-Tasman Visa for International Tourists

Australia and New Zealand’s peak tourism industry groups are calling for a permanent Trans-Tasman Visa that would allow international tourists to travel between both countries with a regional visa – making long-haul flights to Australia and New Zealand more enticing.

A temporary Trans-Tasman Visa arrangement was implemented during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in which visitors travelling between 26 January and 5 April 2015 only required an Australian Visa to travel over to New Zealand. A three month visa was granted upon arrival in New Zealand to those holding an eligible Australian visa through the period.

The Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) and Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) have written a joint letter to the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection following the temporary visa’s one year anniversary calling for the implementation of a permanent Trans-Tasman Visa by the end of 2016.

“Australia and New Zealand are long-haul destinations – it makes a lot of sense for us to package the two countries together in a joint regional visa to prospective international tourists who are weighing up the long flight to our countries,” said Margy Osmond, TTF CEO.

“The reality is that if you are coming halfway around the world to Australia or New Zealand you want to make it worth your while, just as travelling to Europe we visit a multitude of countries on that continent not just one.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Seamless travel between Australia and New Zealand for our own citizens and international visitors is a goal we should be strongly pursuing to make our two nations a more attractive destination in what is a cut-throat, competitive tourism market.

“A 2014 TTF investigation into the benefits of streamlining the Trans-Tasman border highlighted that a joint visa scheme could increase the number of international visitors to our region by 141,300 people by 2020 – that’s more jobs and economic activity we are missing out on by dragging our feet on a Trans-Tasman Visa.”

TIA CEO Chris Roberts said the experience during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 proves that a Trans-Tasman Visa arrangement has tremendous potential to bring more visitors to both countries.

“The New Zealand Government’s review of the visa arrangements during the Cricket World Cup shows that during the 39 days it was in place, 7,239 travellers from 77 nations entered New Zealand using the Trans-Tasman Visa,” Mr Roberts said.

“Approximately 40 per cent of the international visitors who used the arrangement were Chinese – a non-playing nation in the World Cup – which just goes to show the potential a permanent and cleverly-marketed Trans-Tasman Visa could have in the Asia-Pacific region.

“It makes sense to invest and market a joint Australia-New Zealand experience to potential international visitors. This is already happening successfully elsewhere – for example the Schengen zone of 28 European countries, where a single visitor visa is required.

“Our organisations are encouraging the Australian Government to complete its own review as a matter of urgency and work with the New Zealand Government to put in place a permanent Trans-Tasman Visa by the end of 2016.

“The Cricket World Cup has shown it can work, we just need the will of our governments to bring down this travel barrier between our countries permanently.”

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.