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Summary

  • The Australian travel industry is witnessing significant optimism with the advancement in vaccine development and improvement of COVID-19 situation in Victoria.

  • However, the travel sector could face a critical challenge with the rise in several cases linked to Adelaide’s Parafield coronavirus cluster.
  • Tennis Australia has planned to stage an entire summer of Tennis including Australian open in Melbourne.
  • Melbourne has planned to conduct a festival of food, which would replace the New Year’s Eve fireworks display this year.
  • In addition to New Zealand, the Australian Government is also in discussion with several other APAC nations for opening quarantine-free travel.

With holiday seasons around the corner, Australia is ready to lift the months-long dry spell in its travel space. Significantly, the border closures and restrictions on the movements hard hit the tourism and hospitality industry, that currently seems to be riding the wave of optimism.

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The country’s multi-billion-dollar travel sector is sitting on a sweet spot with a quantum leap in COVID-19 vaccine development. Australia’s considerable control on the virus situation has triggered many to embark on the domestic travel adventures in a quest to satisfy their wanderlust.

However, a daunting challenge has emerged with the second wave of infection gripping South Australia rising cases linked to Adelaide’s Parafield coronavirus cluster. Amidst the new shadows cast upon the quick revival of the ailing sector, the opening avenues for foreign travel are promising to recoup of the losses faced by the reeling travel industry.

Let us look at some of the key developments, a harbinger of what is in store for the travel sector in Australia. 

Situation under Control in Victoria

Aussies flocked to Victorian beaches over the weekend as they savoured the freedom after 112-days of lockdown in the state. Significantly, as days and weeks have passed over with no signs of infection, other states like Western Australia have tossed out stringent border closures for Victoria.

(Daily new cases in Victoria, Data Source: Victoria State Government)

The recent success of the state in successfully tackling the pandemic is drawing the attention of several Australian travelholics as they frequently check travel advisories and evaluate the situation in a hope to materialize their travel plans. The change in Victoria’s scenario fueling optimism may provide a much-needed boost to the battered travel industry.

Sports Plans on the Card

Sports remains an integral part of Australian culture. Organizers have managed to discover strategic ways to conduct tournaments despite the extremities of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a bid to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection for the players and entourage, Tennis Australia has planned to stage an entire summer of tennis including Australian Open in Melbourne.

The tennis events that are brought to the State of Victoria are usually held in  Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, and Hobart. Australian Open tournament director, Craig Tiley indicated that the move would diminish the impact of the late changes to interstate travel restrictions on the tournament.

It signals the sports advancing towards normalcy as Craig Tiley expects Victorian Government to allow spectators of at least 25 per cent capacity at Melbourne Park.

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Festive Season Coming Around

Australian PM Scott Morrison recently confirmed the opening of the national borders by Christmas, except that of Western Australia. The implementation of this “national inspiration” is expected to bring an influx of inter-state travellers. However, the current infection scenario would be considered while advancing with the border opening decisions.

Meanwhile, Melbourne is gearing up for the festivities of the New Year’s Eve as it plans to host a two-day food festival. Significantly, the food festival would replace the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, which typically attracts an enormous crowd. The change of plans with an alternative would put people in good spirit for the upcoming year while minimizing infection chances.

Expanding Travel Bubble

The prospect of Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble has remained a silver lining for the battered travel industry even in the grimmest of circumstances during COVID-19 lockdown. Australia and New Zealand have already commenced the phased implementation of the travel plans.

As of now, the travel bubble is one-way, as the passengers entering New Zealand are required to quarantine. Taking a significant step forward, Victoria also entered the travel bubble, with flights resuming from New Zealand to Melbourne. However, the latest spike in cases across South Australia could blow away hopes for the two-way travel bubble by Christmas.

Apart from the Kiwi nation, the Australian Government is also in discussion with several other APAC nations, with low-infection risks to expand the travel bubble with no quarantine. Australia is eyeing alternative arrangements for opening-up quarantine-free travel with several north Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.

Source: Kalkine Media