July 2026 Newsletter
Ball photos
What an incredible evening at the Youth Tourism NSW Masquerade Ball on 17 June 2026! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for a night of celebration, connection and unforgettable memories with our youth tourism community. The evening brought together industry professionals, members, partners and emerging leaders to strengthen relationships, share experiences and celebrate the people who make our industry so vibrant. The full event gallery is now available via this link. Also check out the photo booth pics here.
A huge shout out to the volunteer committee members and our generous ball sponsors who made this event happen – our Gold sponsor, Nomads, and our Silver sponsors Hero and Summer House, along with Bronze sponsors iRock Entertainment, YHA, Lebara and newcomer TINA – Travel Intelligence & Navigation Assistant. Your support continues to help us create opportunities for connection and collaboration across the industry. We hope you enjoy reliving the evening, and we look forward to seeing you at our next YTNSW event.
Working Holiday Maker visa update
The Backpacker & Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP), supported by YTNSW, Youth Tourism Victoria (YTV) and Adventure Queensland (AQ), has expressed deep concern over the Federal Government’s decision to increase Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa fees by 25% from 1 July 2026, warning the move will damage Australia’s competitiveness as a destination for young international travellers. From 1 July 2026, the cost of a Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa has increased from $670 to $840, making Australia’s Working Holiday Maker visa the most expensive of its kind in the world. The increase comes alongside the introduction of a $1,000 application fee for a second or third year Working Holiday visa, which was previously $670.
BYTAP Chair Peta Zietsch said the changes would discourage young people from choosing Australia for their working holiday experience: “Australia competes with countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and the United Kingdom for Working Holiday Makers”. In comparison, a visa to Japan currently costs Australians $156, and one to Canada costs under $400. Ms Zietsch also warned that the increase could have wider consequences beyond inbound tourism that generates an estimated $1.5 billion contribution to Australia’s visitor economy. Any decline in arrivals will particularly hurt regional Australia, that benefits from the dispersed tourism and mobile agricultural workforce that Working Holiday Makers provide. For more information about BYTAP, visit www.bytap.org.
New member & Side Bar Industry Party, 31 July 2026
Welcome to our latest member – the award-winning Oz Jet Boating – offering unbeatable sightseeing and unforgettable adventure on Sydney Harbour!
Meanwhile, Side Bar is throwing its annual Industry Party on Friday 31 July from 5pm, bringing together industry legends for a night of food, drinks and plenty of fun. Expect good company, DJs and a mechanical bull to kick things up a notch. All YTNSW members and industry friends are welcome. Please RSVP to Alex at alex@sidebarsydney.com.au
Thanks go all our members for your ongoing support of the youth tourism industry in New South Wales & the ACT. If you have any industry news you’d like to share with our community, please email contact@youthtourismnsw.org.au
We’d also like to give a special thanks to Allsopp Bunting Insurance for their ongoing support of YTNSW and the industry, and to our valued venue sponsor, Applejack Hospitality.