On Monday, Australia announced that it will reopen its borders to vaccinated visitors this month, putting an end to two years of suffering for the tourism industry, restarting migration, and pumping billions of dollars into the world’s 13th largest economy.
Tourists could return to Australia within weeks with international borders poised to reopen: https://t.co/gxaqP4aa2t #auspol #australiapm
— Prime Minister of Australia News (@AustraliaPM) February 7, 2022
The action basically puts an end to Australia’s final major response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which it has ascribed to low mortality and infection rates. Stop-start lockdowns, the other basic approach, were retired for good in December.
In recent months, the country has made moves to loosen border controls, such as allowing skilled migrants in and establishing quarantine-free travel arrangements – “travel bubbles” – with select countries such as New Zealand.
However, the reopening, which takes effect on Feb. 21, marks the first time since March 2020 that anyone from anywhere in the world can travel to Australia as long as they are vaccinated.
“We look forward to welcoming you back to Australia if you’re double-vaccinated,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a media briefing in Canberra.
The tourism industry, which has relied on the domestic market, which has been harmed by mobility restrictions, has applauded Morrison’s decision, which comes three months before an election.
“Over the two years since the borders have been closed the industry has been on its knees,” said Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley by phone.
“Now we can turn our collective efforts towards rebuilding an industry that is in disrepair,” he added.
Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said the industry was “ecstatic” about the reopening, but that coordination was needed to keep Australia competitive.
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