people from diverse backgrounds

[englishhobby]

Does this sentence sound natural? (It's from a course book I'm editing that hasn't been published yet.)
It's a great way to meet Australians and other people from diverse backgrounds, to promote cultural exchange (corrected) and experience a different way of life.

 

[Lynxear]

I would remove "other" and change the last part of the sentence

It's a great way to meet Australians and people from diverse backgrounds, as well as promoting cultural exchange and experiencing a different way of life.

 

[tedmc]

I would remove "other" and change the last part of the sentence

It's a great way to meet Australians and people from diverse backgrounds, as well as promoting cultural exchange and experiencing a different way of life.

Wouldn't it be better to be consistent to follow the infinitive form of the verb in the second part of the sentence?

It's a great way to meet Australians and people from diverse backgrounds, as well as to promote cultural exchange and to experience a different way of life.

 

[Lynxear]

Wouldn't it be better to be consistent to follow the infinitive form of the verb in the second part of the sentence?

It's a great way to meet Australians and people from diverse backgrounds, as well as to promote cultural exchange and to experience a different way of life.

No, this is not better. "As well as" is a multi-word preposition. You don't use infinitives after prepositions. Gerunds are used here.

Also speaking as a native English speaker the sentence as I have written it flows better as you read or say the words.

However as I revisit the sentence I should omit the comma. It is unnecessary

It's a great way to meet Australians and people from diverse backgrounds as well as promoting cultural exchange and experiencing a different way of life.

 

[Raymott]

You don't use infinitives after prepositions. Gerunds are used here.

I'd question that. You might still be right if "as well as" is not a preposition.
"I'm going to Australia to experience a different way of life as well as to promote cultural exchange."
Also:
https://ludwig.guru/s/as+well+as+to+build