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International tourists to be welcomed back to Australia in a fortnight

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International tourists to be welcomed back to Australia in a fortnight

Lynn Chen Posted on 09 Feb 2022

Main points

  • Australia's border will open to international tourists on 21 February
  • Only visitors who have received two doses of an approved vaccine will be allowed in
  • The first markets for Cairns will include Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore

 

Australia will reopen its international borders to all visitors who are fully vaccinated from February 21.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the date following a meeting of the National Security Committee of Cabinet this morning.

He said people who haven’t received two doses of an approved vaccine can still be turned around, even if they have a visa.

“I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that is the requirement to enter into Australia,” he said.

“If you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that and over the next two weeks they’ll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia."

 

“We have seen more than $2 billion stripped from our regional economy while international borders were closed and now we can begin the slow and expensive process of rebuilding key markets.

“This will require tens of millions of dollars of investment by governments and the industry to get the industry on the road to recovery and drive aviation partnerships while maintaining domestic share.”

Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker.said the first markets for Cairns will include Japan, Bali, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

"We know that Jetstar are locked in to fly to Japan and Bali from the end of March, and we are working with Singapore Airlines to facilitate their return, hopefully in a similar timeframe.

"We hope to see Air Niugini also carry passengers in the near future, in addition to the freight they ship.

"Flights to New Zealand will return in June which aligns with the NZ border regulations. "

Credit: CHHHS

Latest statistics

Queensland recorded 4,701 new cases and 19 deaths in the most recent reporting period.

Only one person who died had received a booster vaccine and 10 were in aged care.

The downward trend in cases is reflected in hospital admissions, with 663 people being treated in hospital and 43 in intensive care.

Health authorities, however, do expect a surge in numbers as children resume schooling.

A quarter of children aged 12-15 remain unvaccinated, while just over a third of 5-11 year-olds have received their first jab.

Of the population aged 16 and over in the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service region, 59.6 per cent have received a third vaccine dose.

 

 

SOURCE : https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2022/february/7/international-tourists-to-be-welcomed-back-to-australia-in-a-fortnight