Young visitors to Australia stay for around eight months and spend over $13,000 each.

Planned increases to the cost of working holiday visas (WHV) will impact Tourism Australia’s youth marketing initiatives, according to Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC).

ATEC managing director Felicia Mariani said the youth travel market plays an important role in our inbound visitation, spending considerably more than the average international visitor.

“Young people visiting Australia, and working holiday makers in particular stay around eight months and spend over $13,000 each,” Ms Mariani said

A recent meeting of the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organisation highlighted the value of youth travel in the tourism mix, with the sector reported to be worth over $185 billion US dollars globally.

It is crucial Australia taps into this increasingly valuable market and looks to more effectively target the youth market, according to Ms Mariani.

The 28.6 percent increase to the WHV fee outlined in last month’s Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook adds pressure on industry operators.

“It further undermines the industry’s international competitiveness, compounding the view that Australia is an expensive destination for youth travellers,” Ms Mariani added.