‘Are we there yet?’: From recovery to resilience – opportunities and challenges for Australia’s tourism sector report released without fanfare.
Remember that interim report from the Inquiry into Tourism and International Education? It was released almost a year ago to the date (19 October, 2023) focusing solely on International Education. Well, the final report was recently released and tabled in Parliament on 1 October; who knew? It clearly focuses much more on Tourism than International education.
The conclusion?
Maybe the Koala is off the mark and read the eucalyptus leaves wrong, but surely this was an opportunity for the Government to look at synergies to leverage each sector off each other and find new ways to progress Australia’s place international tourism and education sectors.
The terms of reference as set out for the committee were:
The tourism and international education sectors are important contributors to the Australian economy. These sectors contracted significantly following the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 and the subsequent closure of international borders. Noting that Australia has since opened its borders, the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) will inquire into the international education and tourism sectors as key contributors to the post-COVID-19 recovery of the Australian economy, with a focus on:
(i) in relation to tourism:
- the challenges and opportunities for growth in tourism and how Australia can reassert itself as a leader in the international tourism sector;
- the effectiveness of recent tourism campaigns overseas;
- the promotion of regional Australia as a world class international travel destination;
- the role of Australia as a hub in support of tourism in the Asia Pacific region; and
- other related matters that may assist in the inquiry.
(ii) in relation to international education:
- challenges associated with the loss of international student numbers as a result of the significant disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and effective measures to attract and retain students to Australia;
- online innovations in education delivery and potential opportunities to strengthen the sector’s resilience;
- initiatives to ensure positive international student experience and support pathways to build their skills and contribute to Australia’s prosperity; and
- opportunities for international education to support strategic and foreign policy objectives.
It doesn’t distinctly set out to find leverage points, but sure, this must have come up in the committee’s deliberations.
Senator Deborah O’Neill, the Chair of the Trade Subcommittee said:
The Committee commenced this inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors in October 2022, as the world was emerging from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This period saw two years of closed international borders and domestic restrictions on movement that tested the resilience of communities and businesses.
The Committee released an Interim Report in late 2023 focusing on the complexities and challenges of the international education sector and how it had been impacted by the pandemic.[3] After considering the interplay of institutions, educators, businesses and the regulatory framework, it was the Committee’s view that the sector take the COVID-19 disruption as an opportunity to reset. The Interim Report recommended that a student wellbeing focused approach that builds the brand of ‘Team Australia’, supported by the strengthening of alumni networks will help foster enduring connections to Australia. I would like to thank the Hon Julian Hill MP who took a leading role in the development of the Interim Report. Since the Interim Report was released, the Australian Government has announced changes in the policy for international education which will take time to be fully developed and implemented, and see measurable results.
This report focuses on the tourism sector and reflects the lived experience of stakeholders during and after the peak of the pandemic. The Committee was eager to hear from government, businesses, industry, First Nations people, communities and peak bodies during the inquiry, and expresses its thanks to parties that tendered submissions or appeared as witnesses. While the Committee heard stories of struggle and loss, we also heard about collaboration and innovation, as governments and businesses pivoted to new markets or products to meet radically different circumstances.
There appears to be very little cross over.
It is not as if it wasn’t in plain sight, though. 6.22 through 6.31 lists the intersections for all to see with 6.23 clearly articulating the economic benefit:
Intersection between international education and tourism
The report says:
6.22Witnesses consistently highlighted the intersection between international education and tourism, how they complement one another and bring one another benefit.
6.23Ms Arthy from the ACT Government explained the intersection between international education and tourism, and the importance of both to the Canberra economy:
What we find, though, with international visitors is that they make up about one in 33 of all visitors to the ACT; however, the spend is significant. So one in every eight dollars spent in the ACT comes from an international visitor. When it comes to international students, they might only be six per cent of the total of international visitors that we have at the moment, but they represent 53 per cent of the spend that comes into the territory from the contribution international markets made to the territory.[22]
6.24Ms Arthy went on to explain that the multiple levels of government, peak student networks and the universities work together to promote Canberra as a desirable destination for international students and tourists, with the ACT Government providing ‘all sorts of toolkits to help universities promote Canberra.’[23]
6.25Visitor data in South Australia showed that India is the second largest international visitor market to the state, driven by international students and their VFRs.[24] Ms Jane Johnston, CEO of StudyAdelaide emphasised that:
… [a] strong international tourism sector is underpinned by a thriving international education sector.[25]
6.26Evidence received in Adelaide pointed to a proactive approach to getting international students to explore beyond the capital city and into the regions. One example given of students engaging more deeply in tourism was a program run by the University of Adelaide, Discover Adelaide, which provided students with the opportunity to take part in activities across the state, spending time in different regions and attending festivals.[26]
6.27Mr Matt Schultz, Director, International Recruitment, Flinders University spoke of getting students into the regions via an immersion program run for international students during orientation week, as well as opportunities for students to visit other parts of the state throughout their study.[27]
6.28The Committee received evidence of StudyAdelaide’s collaboration with the tourism industry in South Australia. It provided an example of how the international education sector and international tourism work together. By taking international students on regional careers tours, students are exposed to regional South Australia and can then share these experiences with family and friends back home.[28] This then feeds into the VFR market with students promoting regional destinations based on their experiences.
6.29In its evidence TAFE SA noted that international students can take part in a Bachelor’s Degree that focuses on hospitality and international tourism. The program is delivered within the Barossa Valley and Adelaide regions, with students contributing to the tourism workforce. This program allows students to engage with both tourism activities and work with various providers, including in a regional setting.[29]
6.30Her Excellency Dr Chanborey Cheunboran, the Ambassador of Cambodia to Australia, noted in her evidence the intersectionality between tourism and education exchanges. Ambassador Cheunboran emphasised these are an important part of global connectivity and in fact serve as a link between South-East Asia and Australia. Ambassador Cheunboran also emphasised that the Cambodian community in Australia, around 75,000 to 80,000 people, is one of the main drivers behind the increase of tourists to Australia and that many who visit Australia also explore education opportunities here for loved ones.[30]
6.31Her Excellency Mrs Maria Hellen de la Vega, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, enforced the need for bodies such as StudyAdelaide, Study NT and Study Melbourne to market regional Australia to international students. Ambassador de la Vega stated this would resonate with students from rural and regional areas of the Philippines as many Filipino students were from non-metropolitan areas. It was observed that for many students in the Philippines, the vision of Australia is Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and that it was important to promote studying and working in regional areas of Australia.[31]
Still – at the end of chapter six, there are two (three if you count a sub-point) distinct recommendations, and none of them relate to leveraging each other.
Chapter 6 – International Education
Recommendations:
Recommendation 27
6.85The Committee urges the Australian Government to consider the recommendations from the Committee’s Interim Report on the international education sector, with a particular emphasis on implementing policies and actions that support regional education providers.
6.86This consideration of the Interim Report should take into account updated government policy settings in the sector, to ensure that the adoption of recommendations aligns with their intent.
Recommendation 28
6.87The Committee recommends the Australian Government promotes the accessibility and affordability of appropriate housing in regional areas and supports policies which will increase housing stock more broadly to improve the availability of housing for international students and workers in the tourism sector.
The Koala can’t help but think that this may well be an opportunity missed.
Who would be seen promoting the benefits of international education in the current climate? Certainly not the government or the opposition. Sarcasm intended.
Let’s see what the Senate committee report on the ESOS Act says when it is released tomorrow.
The final report can be downloaded here.
