Australia and New Zealand have kicked off the quarantine-free travel bubble on 19 April, almost a week before the ANZAC day. Celebrated on 25 April every year, the day honors the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) members that suffered casualties in the first campaign during WWI.
However, 2020 remained quite dim in terms of ANZAC celebrations as lockdown restrictions confined the festivities to people’s driveway while service gatherings remained canceled. It appears that the travel bubble has come just in time and could prove valuable to the travel sector, reeling from the pandemic shock.
Image courtesy: © Amarosy | Megapixl.com
Corporate Travel Management Limited (ASX:CTD) indicated that the business travel scenario is improving both in Australia and New Zealand. ANZAC day could provide an occasion for travel enthusiasts to undertake recreational activities and meet the family or relatives on the other side of the border. At the same time, domestic travel options also remain available as Australia’s interstate borders have been opened for quite a while.
As the Anzac weekend nears, let us look at how you can plan your travel itineraries for the coming weekend.
Check Your Holiday Calendar
Much to the dismay of travel lovers, ANZAC day this year falls on Sunday. But it does not mean that you must throw your travel plans out of the window. It appears that many Australian states are offering public holiday on Monday. If you hail from Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory or ACT, count your lucky stars this weekend as you can look forward to the more extended travel.
Meanwhile, residents of the remaining states can explore the backyards by hitting the road or plan camping in the nearby exquisite location.
Leverage Full-Fledged Travel Bubble
Australian travel lovers can materialize their visits to New Zealand, which they had been long postponing in the wake of quarantine requirements. Thus, the first weekend, marking both the ANZAC holiday and the opening of the quarantine-free Trans-Tasman bubble, can be the perfect time to meet the family or visit that picturesque spot.
New Zealand offers a wide variety of adventures, and travelers can indulge in extreme sports, trekking, and hiking. Alternatively, one can hang out in Auckland, Queensland, or Wellington to beautifully enjoy the escapade.
Domestic Travel Alternatives
While travel to NZ is no more bothersome, Aussies can also revel in the plethora of exciting domestic travel options. Australia is known for its diverse settings and can cater to various objectives, from calmly gazing the nature to enjoying some of the most popular beaches in the world.
The Federal Government’s Tourism Aviation Network Support Program provides 800,000 half-price airfares to several domestic destinations. It would thus allow you to execute your domestic travel plans in a budget-friendly way.
The Trans-Tasman relations fuelled by the geographical proximity have kept the travel engagement between the two nations relatively buoyant. However, it does not suggest that the short travel route is the only link that connects the two nations.
The countries share vast historical and cultural commonalities, which have ensured the mutual exchange of tourism services for centuries. Such relations gain much more importance in the current scenario when the tourism industry requires all-round support to reach the pre-pandemic level.
Meanwhile, individual efforts to ensure safety measures and the Government’s initiatives towards strengthening the tourism scenario remain critical for travel reboot.
Source: Kalkine Media
