In the seventies, with the idea of promoting international understanding, the Australian government set up a working holiday program. The idea was that young people could travel and explore Australia, get to know a different culture and add some value to the Australian economy by working.

In 2005, the most recent year for which there are figures, more than 110,000 people applied to take part in the working holiday scheme, confirming the scheme as one of the most successful travel incentives in the world. Additionally, the travellers that took out the visas spent more than $1.3bn Australian dollars during the year.

The working holiday program entitles anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 to holiday in Australia and to support themselves financially by incidental employment. There are no limits on the type of work that tourists can do, traditionally its been harvest or hospitality work, but many people now sort out employment before they go and therefore are able to get much better jobs.

There are three major requirements to getting a visa through the working holiday program. The first, and perhaps most important, is that the person getting the visa must be in Australia for the primary reason of travelling or holidaying. To enforce this rule it is not allowed for an employer to hire someone for more than a six month period if they have a working holiday visa.

The second condition that the individual must meet is that they can only stay in the country for a calendar year. The start and end date are fixed when the visa is issued so even if the individual leaves Australia during that period and then returns the visa will still expire at the end of the period.

The third condition that the individual must meet is that they must have enough money behind them to support them during the first part of their stay and have an outward ticket (or the means to book an outward ticket). The Australian government requires that individual must have at least $5,000AUS (roughly equivalent to ?2,200) in reserves.

The working holiday scheme has been a resounding success and is particularly popular in the UK and South Korea (which, between them, account for half of all annual visa applications). The majority of visitors hit the backpacker trail up and down the Australian west coast spending, and visiting places like the Great Barrier Reef and Ayres Rock.

If youre eligible to qualify for the working holiday program its a wonderful idea. An Australia flight is cheaper than ever before so if youre able to afford the reserves that you have to have behind you its a great way to spend a significant amount of time in a truly remarkable country.