Desk Review of the Tourism Sector in Australia, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand Najma Pirzada Contents Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Australia: “There’s Nothing Like Australia” .................................................................................................. 4 1. Background ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Policy Framework to Develop the Tourism Sector ............................................................................... 4 a) The “Future View of Australian Tourism” (2002-03) ........................................................................ 5 b) “Tourism 2020” (2009-10) ................................................................................................................ 6 c) Marketing .......................................................................................................................................... 8 d) China Approved Destination Status (ADS) Scheme ........................................................................ 10 4. Regulatory Framework for the Tourism Sector .................................................................................. 10 a) Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment Act 2015 ........................................................... 10 b) Foreign Direct Investment .............................................................................................................. 11 c) National PPP Policy Framework and National PPP Guidelines, 2008 ............................................. 11 d) Private Sector Involvement ............................................................................................................. 11 e) Institutional Structure in the Tourism Industry .............................................................................. 12 5. Visa Regime ......................................................................................................................................... 14 a) eVisitor Scheme (Subclass 651) ...................................................................................................... 14 b) Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) System (Subclass 601) ........................................................ 14 c) General Visit Visa (Subclass 600) .................................................................................................... 15 d) Transit Visa ...................................................................................................................................... 15 6. Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) ......................................................................................... 15 a) Singapore Airlines and South Australian Tourism MoU to Promote Tourism, May 2016 .............. 15 b) UnionPay International and Tourism Western Australia, 2016 ...................................................... 15 c) Tourism Australia and Singapore Airlines in 2015 .......................................................................... 16 d) India and Australia sign MoU in hospitality education and training, 2015 ..................................... 16 e) New South Wales, Australia, and Guangdong Province, China (2014-15) ..................................... 16 f) India and Australia join hands for Cooperation in Tourism & Culture, Nov 2014 .......................... 16 g) Maldives and Australia Sign MoU on Education, 2012 ................................................................... 16 h) China signs education MoU with Australia's state of Victoria, 2011 .............................................. 16 i) Australia – China MOU on Strengthening Tourism Cooperation, 2011 .......................................... 17 Bhutan: “Happiness is a Place” ................................................................................................................... 18 1. Background ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Circuit Tourism ........................................................................................................................................ 18 2. Policy Framework to Develop the Tourism Sector ............................................................................. 19 a) Government Five Year Plans ........................................................................................................... 19 b) High Value Low Impact Philosophy ................................................................................................. 20 c) Product & Regional diversification.................................................................................................. 20 d) Infrastructure Development ........................................................................................................... 21 e) Human Resource Capacity Building ................................................................................................ 21 f) Marketing ........................................................................................................................................ 21 g) Education ........................................................................................................................................ 21 3. Regulatory Framework for the Tourism Sector .................................................................................. 22 a) Tourism Law, 2000 .......................................................................................................................... 22 b) Regulations Governing Tours and Business Visits by Reps of Overseas Travel Agents, 2000 ........ 22 c) Trekking in Bhutan Rules and Regulations 1996 ............................................................................. 22 d) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ...................................................................................................... 22 e) Private Public Partnerships (PPP) .................................................................................................... 23 f) Tax & Other Incentives .................................................................................................................... 23 g) Institutional Structure in the Tourism Industry .............................................................................. 24 4. Visa Regime ......................................................................................................................................... 26 5. Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) ......................................................................................... 26 a) MoU on Technical Cooperation between India, Bhutan, April, 2016 ............................................. 26 b) MOU between Bhutan-Nepal agree to boost air connectivity, Jan 2016 ....................................... 27 c) India and Bhutan MOU in Education, 2014 .................................................................................... 27 d) Bhutan and Indian Online Agency sign MoU, 2011 ........................................................................ 27 e) Bhutan and the Maldives have signed an Air Services Agreement, 2011 ...................................... 27 f) Air services between Bhutan and Bangladesh can be increased, 2011 .......................................... 28 g) India- Bhutan Foundation (IBF) ....................................................................................................... 28 India: “Incredible India” .............................................................................................................................. 29 1. Background ......................................................................................................................................... 29 2. Policy Framework to Develop the Tourism Sector ............................................................................. 29 a) Five Year Plans ................................................................................................................................ 29 b) Marketing ........................................................................................................................................ 33 c) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ...................................................................................................... 34 d) PPP Schemes and Infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 35 e) Taxes & Other Incentives ................................................................................................................ 36 3. Regulatory Framework for the Tourism Sector .................................................................................. 37 a) Draft National Tourism Policy, 2015 ............................................................................................... 37 b) Institutional Structure ..................................................................................................................... 38 5. Visa Regime ......................................................................................................................................... 40 6. Memorandum of Understanding .......................................................................................................