Canadian author Ronald Wright once said, “Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up.” Will the statement stand true as variants of the coronavirus continue to make their grim appearances, or will we finally win the war against the invisible enemy?
2020 wreaked havoc on economies, businesses, and individuals alike after the COVID-19 pandemic made way in every continent. As safety protocol and virus research around the newly discovered novel coronavirus progressed, rays of hope did start to appear. Several stimulus packages were announced globally, immunization was in full swing, and lockdowns had begun to lift. After several turmoiled months, recovery brought hope and smiles to everyone.
But fears seem to have made a comeback.
The Delta variant of coronavirus is proving to be a far more difficult element than anyone has seen to date. “The Delta variant is presenting very different challenges from those that we have faced in the past”, reiterates PM Scott Morrison.
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Subsequently, as businesses dread its repercussions on their activities, the travel industry could become a vital victim of the new variant.
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Is Australia’s travel industry at stake?
Undeniably, tough border controls have played an instrumental role in ensuring Australia’s relative success in containing the virus spread. However, it is hard to neglect the unfortunate repercussions of such border restrictions on the nation’s travel industry seen last year. While the travel sector is gradually recovering from the terrifying phase of muted travel demand, the latest COVID-19 cluster has sparked fears of derailing the industry’s revival from a virus crisis.
In the recent past, Australia’s tourism sector has taken a massive hit. Universities are grappling without the fees that international students bring. Citizens who often travel abroad are starting to feel the itch to go on holidays overseas- but to no avail.
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The fresh coronavirus outbreak in Greater Sydney has forced several Australian states and territories to levy new travel restrictions, with some completely shutting out all NSW visitors. In fact, the new outbreak has also compelled New Zealand to pause its travel bubble with NSW for few days. Border closures and ban on travel from Sydney to regional NSW have prompted mass flight cancellations within hours, potentially inducing losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars for tourism operators.
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The lockdown is spreading to other Australian states. For instance, the northern city of Darwin witnessed an extension in its lockdown. Perth and Brisbane are also facing likewise restrictions.
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Is there a silver lining?
Australia was celebrated for its initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for securing its economy more or less back on track after last year’s aftermath. Besides, the country has recorded close to 900 deaths in its population of 25 million- one of the lowest per capita death tolls in the developed world, and cases have remained low as well.
The travel sector does have a few rays of hope which will be majorly dependent on how the country fights the Delta variant and associated repercussions of the virus. For instance, talk of quarantine-free travel between Australia and the south-east Asian city state of Singapore may pick up the pace once planning protocols and safety is better taken care of in both nations.
ALSO READ: Is Australia-Singapore travel bubble on the cards?
Another bright side is that both Australia and New Zealand have already planned for temporary halts in travel bubbles and are geared up to deal with them. This is evident from the swift continuation of flights between Victoria and New Zealand following a short cessation.
The trans-Tasman bubble is set to reopen to travellers from South Australia, ACT, Tasmania, and Victoria to travel to New Zealand next week, but with a pre-departure testing requirement. However, only time will reveal if the supposed benefits of the trans-Tasman travel bubble outweigh the associated risks and set the stage for other travel arrangements.
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On the immunization end, aged-care and quarantine workers in the country are likely to get vaccinated faster.
At a time when the nation is unlikely to reopen its international borders by mid-2022, sooner lifting of domestic travel restrictions is crucial to sustaining the tourism industry’s revival. Besides, the speedier rollout of coronavirus vaccination seems imperative to prevent any additional outbreaks and resultant pauses in travel bubbles.
SOURCE: KALKINE MEDIA
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