Allowing more working holiday-makers into Australia could help ease labour shortages across the country, according to Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive John Lee. 

With more than 36,000 job vacancies within the tourism and hospitality industry, Mr Lee said employers, particularly those in regional areas, would benefit from non-restrictive caps on applicant numbers.

"We are encouraged by the news that the government is looking at lifting the cap of 1,000 places for Indonesians and are looking forward to similar expansions for Malaysia and Thailand, as well as continuing negotiations with China and the future addition of India, the Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian nations to the WHM scheme, in line with recent commitments made as part of the Asian Century white paper,” the TTF head said.

Mr Lee added that as well as filling employment gaps, working visa holders “are likely” to return to Australia for future holidays and boost tourism numbers.

As part of a bi-annual report, MyCareer found that for the year ending May 2013, tourism and hospitality will see an increase of 1.1 percent more jobs as well as a 2.5 percent increase in average salary.

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