South Australia is so desperate for backpackers that they are offering 10-pound ($A17.60) flights to entice young British and Irish travellers.
The scheme is a modern twist on the post-war ’10-pound-pom’ scheme.
It will see Irish backpackers get even cheaper trips to the land down under, costing them just 10 euros ($A14.90).
This move comes as Australia’s lack of backpackers over the past two years due to COVID has caused worker shortages across the country.
However, the availability of these flights is very tight.
Only 200 lucky travellers will be able to snag a 10-pound flight.
The scheme will begin in May, and young British and Irish backpackers can buy flights out of Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh or Dublin from Qatar Airways.
‘South Australia is welcoming the return of working holiday makers – it’s a real win-win for young people eager to travel and work abroad, and for our local tourism industry,’ said South Australian minister for tourism Zoe Bettison.
Bettison believes that tourism operators missed having international visitors due to COVID restrictions, while the state also missed out on the backpacker workforce and “the vibrancy they bring,” according to the Daily Mail.
‘We look forward to welcoming back young people from the UK and Ireland, and encourage them to make the most of these £10 fares.”
The scheme has been implemented by the South Australian government due to the tendency of backpackers to traditionally gravitate towards Sydney and Melbourne.
The original program, which this scheme is based on, brought migrants from the UK to Australia after World War 2 until 1982.
It saw 1.5 million British and Irish people come to Australia for 10 pounds, but this amount of money in 1945 is the equivalent of 460 pounds in 2022.
Backpackers are also quite fortunate to only have to endure a 24 hour flight, whereas it was originally a 6 week boat journey.
