The Backpacker Operators Alliance of Victoria (BOAV) is the peak body for backpacking operators in Victoria, established to create a professional and cohesive industry in Victoria, and to promote Victoria as an international backpacker destination of choice.
The power behind BOAV is the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Australia's largest and most influential Chamber of Commerce. VECCI is an independent not-for-profit, non-government body with significant influence at all levels of government.
VECCI has secured competitive benefits for the Victorian business sector from cuts to payroll and land tax, to reductions in WorkCover premiums, and industrial relations and regulation reform. A true partner to the tourism industry VECCI provides BOAV with management, policy, and training support, and a powerful lobbying voice on behalf of its members.
BOAV is working to establish a quality-driven and cohesive industry by developing membership levels. Like you, BOAV is focused on results. We understand your business environment, and the issues you face.
Our commitment is to establish benchmarks for industry quality that will lead to improved services and experiences for backpackers, and improved efficiencies for members. This in turn will lead to an increased reputation national and globally for backpacking establishments in Victoria. Increased revenues and stability arising from this will provide resources to further improve standards and quality across the industry.
The backpacker customer base has changed dramatically. They are now a diverse sector of all age groups and backgrounds with increased expectations of their backpacker experience in Victoria and Australia.
Backpackers contribute $2.3billion to the Australian economy each year, 20 percent of all international tourism expenditure. The average expenditure per international backpacker visit is $4900, double that of non-backpacker visitors. Backpackers are often very well travelled globally and their experiences in Victoria and Australia will be compared with their backpacking experiences in other countries.
Backpackers visiting from overseas also fill an increasing need in regional Victoria where local seasonal workers are becoming a depleted resource as local people relocate to cities and larger centres for work or to attend tertiary institutions.
Recent changes to Working Holiday Visa rules mean that backpackers are now able to apply for a further 12 months' extension to their visas provided they have completed three months of harvest or farm work in their first year in Australia.
Wheat farmers, and fruit and vegetable growers often struggle to find seasonal workers and these changes to the visa rules means they will now have access to a steady and reliable workforce for the full length of the harvest season.
Visiting backpackers also fill other vacancies in small towns where there is a shortage of labour, contributing positively to local economies in Victoria.
BOAV benefits
If you're not already a member of BOAV then join now! Your membership will give you immediate access to many useful resources, many of which are complementary with your membership. | 
