Australian immigration aims to boost migrant numbers from Asia
August 28 2009 by Matt Jones
Simon Crean promotes move to Australia
Australia is making strategic changes to advertising campaigns in an effort to increase Australia visa applications from people in Asia
Australian immigration is aiming to change the way foreigners think of Australia. The current image of sunny beaches and barbeques needs to change for Australia to continue to thrive. Trade Minister Simon Crean, who says the new advertising campaign will capture “the essence of Australia.”
The hope is for Australia to be seen as a destination for investing, a source of green energy for Asia as well as an educational centre.
Crean said: "We are much more than a nation of great people and great places. We have won 10 Nobel Prizes and we are a nation bursting with creativity and ingenuity. [Asian] demands for energy and for food will increase. But so, too, will their demand for infrastructure and services. This is the creative space in which Australia can play."
It was in 1980 that the sun and sand image of Australia was placed in the public eye with Australia’s most successful advertising campaign to date. The ad starred Hulk Hogan saying that he would “put another shrimp on the Barbie” for them. Crean says the ad did not damage the image of Australia.
In related news, Jetstar Airways, an Australian low-cost airline, will be launching flights to China in December this year. There will be four flights per week leaving from Melbourne and arriving in Haikou with an overnight stop off in Singapore.
There has been an 80% drop in Chinese tourists making an Australia visa application in the last three months, but these new developments are expected to help turn that figure around.
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