CONCESSION FARES NEEDED TO SUPPORT VICTORIA AS A STUDY DESTINATION [28.04.2009]
Victoria’s competitiveness as an international study destination is under threat if the Government fails to act on concession fares for international students, according to Committee for Melbourne CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
International education is Victoria’s biggest service export industry but Victoria’s attractiveness to international students is falling behind other States and competitor countries due to a lack of support once the students have arrived, Ms Capp said.
Victoria and New South Wales are the only States in Australia that do not offer concession fares.
Melbourne also compares poorly to our key international competitor destinations of US, UK, Germany and France who all offer transport concessions to international students.
In 2008, 161,625 international students were enrolled in courses in Victoria generating $4.45 billion for the State while the cost of providing the concession fares could be as low as $2.4 million Ms Capp said.
A survey of 670 international students prepared for the Committee for Melbourne in 2008 found that 90 per cent of students’ experience of Melbourne was adversely affected by the lack of transport concession fares, she said.
The report found that international students would use public transport more if concession fares were offered with the additional number of tickets purchased offsetting the cost of the scheme.
Ms Capp said the concession fares could be offered for travel in non peak times, alleviating overcrowding on trains and trams.
Concession fares would also make it easier for students to live further out from the city centre easing inner city congestion and alleviating the student housing shortage in inner areas.
“We know that word of mouth is the number one influencer of student’s decisions about their future study destination. We need people who are studying here to have a great experience, to feel welcome and supported, and to tell their friends back home that Melbourne is a great place to live and study,” Ms Capp said.