Sidney, Europe Brief News – Starting from today, International vaccinated tourists can visit Australia for the first time in nearly two years.
As Australia reopens to international tourists, more than 50 flights will arrive in the country ton Monday.
It is a very exciting day. One that I have been looking forward to for a long time. From the day that I first shut that border right at the start of the pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a visit to the island state of Tasmania, which relies heavily on tourism.
Tourism is a key industry in the country, worth more than $60bn (£31.7bn). It employs almost 5% of the country’s workforce.
However, the sector decreased since international borders closure in March 2020.
Tourism minister Dan Tehan said he is hopeful to see a “very strong” rebound in tourism, with Qantas looking to fly 14,000 people into Australia.
Since November, Mr Morrison’s government has slowly lifted COVID-19 restrictions, having passed the peak of Omicron.
Before the pandemic, Australia welcomed 9.3 million visitors, with tourist spending hitting 44.6 billion Australia dollars ($32b) in 2018-19.
Between March 2020 and March 2021, international tourists dropped to practically zero, inflicting losses of 40.7 billion Australia dollars ($29.2b) on the sector.
The return of tourists, who can enter Australia quarantine-free so long as they are double-vaccinated, comes after the government lifted restrictions on skilled migrants and international students in November.
While Australia has re-opened its border, restrictions will remain in New Zealand until it is “well beyond” the Omicron peak.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said that cases are likely to peak in March. So, she will keep COVID-19 rules in place.
