AUSTRALIA needs to relax its strict visa requirements for visitors from developing countries if it wants to boost tourism and effectively target the emerging giants of China and India.
UN World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Taleb Rifai yesterday said there was no evidence that tough entry conditions on tourists were necessary to protect security, and Australia and other developed countries needed to ease their regimes.
"Visas are becoming a real nightmare," Mr Rifai told a tourism conference in Melbourne.
"It is not reasonable to still see long lines, very cumbersome, uneasy, complicated, lengthy, overpriced entry formalities all over the world, particularly facing nationals from countries that are rising and countries that are providing the base for future incoming tourists.
"There is no evidence to establish that there are close and very strong links between visas and security issues."
Chinese and Indian visitors have provided the greatest annual growth to tourism numbers over the past decade but face a number of bureaucratic hurdles to come here.
Those travelling to Australia for the first time must provide bank statements or other financial information, as well as a letter from their employer showing their position and salary, length of employment and approval for leave, or evidence of enrolment for students.
If visiting relatives or friends, a letter of invitation from the relative or friend in Australia may also be required.
While the tourism industry has bemoaned the high Australian dollar for making Australia less competitive as a destination, Mr Rifai told The Australian visa requirements and easier international travel should be seen as a greater priorities.
"The cost is not the major factor here, it's the ease of reaching here, cost of travel and cost and complications of entry," said the former Jordanian government minister.
"Cost is a very important element in competitiveness but it should not be too much of an obsession.
"Some of the most attractive destinations in the world are some of the most expensive destinations in the world as well."
UNESCO has threatened to declare the Great Barrier Reef "in danger" if conservation efforts are not improved, but Mr Rifai said Australia should be congratulated for setting itself high environmental targets.
"The fact that Australia has these very valuable reefs places more responsibility on Australia, but I think all in all you should be satisfied with what you're doing so far," he said. "On environmental counts, Australia is doing very, very well."
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