EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Migration Regulations 1994

TRAVEL AGENTS FOR PRC CITIZENS APPLYING FOR TOURIST VISAS

(REGULATION 1218(1)(b)(iii))

1. This Instrument is made under Regulation 1.17 and Subparagraph 1218(1)(b)(iii) of the Migration Regulations 1994 (‘the Regulations’).

2.                  Regulation 1.17 is the general power to specify matters by way of Gazette Notice and subparagraph 1218(1)(b)(iii) of the Regulations provides that the Minister may specify travel agents by Gazette Notice who can operate Approved Destination Status (ADS) tour groups in Australia.

3.                  The purpose of the Instrument is to seek your agreement to remove four Chinese travel agents from the Gazette Notice.

4.                  The Instrument operates to remove BTG International Travel and Tours, China Commercial International Travel Service, China Merchants International Travel Co. Ltd and Shantou Tourist General Corp from the ADS scheme in Australia.

5. Consultation was undertaken before the Instrument was made as follows:

As this proposed Instrument is likely to have a direct, or substantial indirect, effect on the Tourism industry, consultation was undertaken with Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), Australian Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources (DITR) and Tourism Australia (TA).

6. The Instrument commences on the date of registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.