Push for single visa to help cricket fans attend 2015 World Cup
Indian cricket fans wanting to attend the 2015 World Cup will find it easier to gain entry if Australia collaborates with New Zealand on visitor visas.
With cricket’s biggest event to be hosted by both Australia and New Zealand, Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Ken Morrison said Australia risked missing out on a flood of Indian tourists because of restrictive visa conditions.
Mr Morrison said Australia should work with New Zealand to create a single visa region to make it simple for Indian cricket fans to move between the countries following their team.
“Having a single application process for visas to both countries for the event would make it much simpler for Indian visitors and allow them to follow their team, encouraging travel between Australia and New Zealand and helping both countries capitalise on the opportunity the 2015 Cricket World Cup presents” Mr Morrison said.
Previous examples of countries collaborating on visitor visas include the 2012 European Football Championships in Ukraine and Poland and the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
The number of Indian visitors to Australia rose by nearly eight per cent to 164,000 in the last financial year, according to ABS figures, and is expected to rise further. The country is being targeted by Tourism Australia as a key growth market.
Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said Australia must become the world’s best at visa processing in order to attract more visitors.
If you are interested in applying for a visitor visa you are welcome to contact No Borders for more information.