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Summary

  • The launch of inoculation programs has strengthened hopes for international travel recovery.

  • COVID-19 Travel Pass, supported by IATA, could be a potential solution to restart air travel.
  • The US relief package aims to boost COVID-19 testing and accelerate vaccination.

The travel industry waited for almost a year to grab the slightest available opportunity to rekindle the enthusiasm lost amid the coronavirus hysterics. The gradual improvements in the Australian pandemic scenario have breathed life into the incapacitated domestic travel sector.

In contrast, the recovery of international travel setting hinged upon more definitive solutions. The new coronavirus strain in the United Kingdom has attracted global apprehensions owing to its higher transmissibility. The US has reimposed travel restrictions for European countries and the UK over the concerns of the new strain.

ALSO READ: Biden beefs up travel restrictions in wake of new virus strains

However, with the mass-vaccination programs either in progress or being rolled out, it appears as if the international travel setting is past the waiting stage. The continuous improvement in testing technology transpiring simultaneously with increased inoculation efforts is fueling optimism for overseas travel.

Travel Pass is on the cards with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) pushing to set global standards such as vaccination certificates and COVID-19 testing frameworks to restart international air travel safely. However, when will the plan materialise with approvals from governments is yet to be seen.

Meanwhile, Australians, being the travel enthusiasts they are, have their eyes set on developments unfolding at some of their favourite international destinations.

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New Zealand

New Zealand stayed ahead of the curve and is regarded as one of the safest travel destinations amid the pandemic crisis. Over the years, the country has consistently topped the charts when it comes to Aussie’s international tourism choice. The proximity and low visa requirements have fabricated a healthy tourism setting between the two countries.

Australia recently lifted the six-days suspension on Trans Tasmanian travel bubble with New Zealand after no new locally acquired COVID-19 case was witnessed in the Kiwi land for four days. It means New Zealanders arriving in the Land Down Under will no longer require 14 days in hotel quarantine.

However, as of now, the travel bubble remains to be a one-way arrangement, with Australia eyeing the neighbouring country to reciprocate shortly.

Notably, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated that her government might establish a two-way travel bubble by the end of the first 2021 quarter. However, as indicated by Jacinda Ardern, vaccination programs’ success is yet to be seen and would decide the travel scenario.

United States

The United States has been one of the most preferred travel destinations for Australian tourists. Leisure purpose or business motivations- the world’s biggest economy is a go-to pick. For months, the nation remained in the eye of the storm, seeing mass vaccination at an accelerated pace.

The New President, Joe Biden has been ardently focused on speeding up the vaccination program, with the coronavirus relief package allocating USD 20 billion for national vaccination program and USD 50 billion for scaled-up testing.

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However, January 2021 proved to be one of the deadliest months for the country. The US witnessed 95,000 fatalities in the month alone. On the positive side, the number of COVID-19 hospital patients has fallen significantly as new infection cases have gone down. Meanwhile, Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci has advised expediting vaccination program citing that virus cannot mutate if they cannot replicate.

GOOD READ: Will COVID-19 Vaccination Bring Some Respite for the Australian Travel Sector?

Asia Pacific Countries

China’s vaccination program is advancing well. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the administration of over 24 million doses of vaccines with significantly low severe adverse effects rate. However, the new outbreaks in the virus’ origin country could weaken its economic footing and weigh on the global travel recovery.

Indian travel scenario is also experiencing tailwinds with a significant downfall in the country’s infection rate and launch of the inoculation program. The country’s recent Union Budget laid out budget proposals for enhancing travel infrastructure that would support the tourism setting. However, the lack of direct support to the pandemic-battered Indian travel sector could prove recovery to be a daunting task for the tourism providers.

Indonesia is another fascinating preference for Australians who love to surf outside their country. Indonesia continues to reel from the pandemic scenario and witnessed havoc in January 2021 with an astounding 335,116 cases across the month. However, Indonesia has kicked off its mass vaccination program, anticipated to curb infections in the coming months.

 

Source: Kalkine Media