Immigration New Zealand last year had 45,000 working holiday applications, with 98% approved.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the people come directly out of Europe,\u201d Alpe said.<\/p>\n
He said Scandinavia, Germany and Britain were major sources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one thing about working holiday visas [WHV] is a lot of the people who come here, they do the hospitality jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stay for a minimum of a year mostly; they work in different regions.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Lylo had its own WHV programme but other visa recipients worked in horticulture and across the tourism sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll go into the Far North, Bay of Plenty, they\u2019ll do fruit-picking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alpe said although Kiwis had valid concerns about the cost of living, the current exchange rate made New Zealand an affordable destination for many people.<\/p>\n
He said before Covid, New Zealand was issuing about 60,000 WHVs a year.<\/p>\n
New Zealand has WHV agreements with 43 countries.<\/p>\n
Canadians aged 18 to 35 can stay in New Zealand for up to 23 months on a WHV.<\/p>\n
People from Britain in the same age range can stay for up to three years.<\/p>\n
Young adults from more than 40 countries can apply for working holiday visas, and an accommodation provider says many of them work in horticulture and hospitality.<\/p>\n
Alpe said historically many WHV applicants were younger than 30, but more people in their 30s were now applying. <\/p>\n
\u201cI threw out the idea last year, why don\u2019t we extend it to 50?\u201d<\/p>\n
He said changing lifestyles and the reality of post-Covid work meant more people older than 35 were considering working holidays.<\/p>\n
Alpe said today\u2019s backpacker could be the bigger-spending tourist of the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey come here, they might do a year, two years, three years. Eventually they\u2019ll come back with their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
A backpacker aged 25 told CNN the proposed ballot was a concern, adding: \u201cEveryone is stressing out\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to the ABC, Tourism Tropical North Queensland said the industry in northern Australia wanted the Government to scrap the changes.<\/p>\n
Hospitality company Crystalbrook Collection chief executive Geoff York told the ABC many workers in Australia would not risk trying the proposed ballot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a one in six chance that you\u2019ll qualify, so that\u2019s not good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe visa slash isn\u2019t just bad news for backpackers,\u201d Time Out magazine said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a major concern for tourism, hospitality and farming businesses, particularly in regional Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Time Out said British backpackers would be exempt from ballot caps because of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.<\/p>\n