The tourism sector is counting days for its comprehensive revival. However, it seems like a tough road for the industry has been paved.
New variants of COVID-19 are emerging in different parts of the world and the anxieties of 2020 are coming back.
The coronavirus pandemic that began in 2020 is now taking a different turn with more severe variants and outbreaks. Australia was ahead of most countries in battling the virus; unfortunately, the new variant now got its roots in Sydney and a few other cities.
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is highly infectious, and amid the new cases of the variant in Sydney, New Zealand has put the travel bubble with Australia on halt. Earlier, quarantine free travel with Australian states was halted as new cases of the Delta variant were found in Sydney.
MUST WATCH: News Beyond Markets || Is Delta Variant spreading faster than expected in Australia?
Source: Copyright © 2021 Kalkine Media
The air travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand was established to boost tourism across the countries. Australia and New Zealand both performed well in curbing community transmission and thus decided to resume travel within the corridor.
However, there is a break in the clouds amid sudden halting and restrictions.
Silver lining amid the chaos
New Zealand government announced that it would resume quarantine travel with parts of Australia next week. Under the new restrictions, travellers will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test before the departure, and they must not have visited the blocked territories in recent days.
As per the latest update, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said that quarantine-free travel would resume for South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. However, authorities would continue to review the situation until then.
The main question that arises now is- will New Zealand’s partial border reopening with Australia be a wise move?
Analysing the partial border reopening
Despite limited COVID-19 cases in Australia, the country hasn’t opened its international borders for tourism, primarily because the global pandemic is not over yet. Additionally, throughout the pandemic, Australia has performed well in curbing the spread of the virus at various stages.
Due to the recent and sudden emergence of the Delta variant in Sydney, the travel corridor between Australia and New Zealand was put on hold. The partial reopening of the borders shows confidence and control of both countries and could be a wise move.
ALSO READ: Trans-Tasman neighbours witnesses The Travel boom
By effectively analysing the scope of the virus, Australia can beat the new mutation like it has the previous ones. Subsequently, with the partial reopening of the travel corridor, the ailing tourism industry can begin to thrive again. At the same time, governments can analyse the root cause of the spread and keep an eye on the number of cases.
Meanwhile, Cruise operator Carnival’s units cancelled Australian voyages through mid-December due to uncertainty regarding the resumption of cruise holidays. Amid these times of uncertainty, the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is a ray of hope for the tourism industry.
Source: Copyright © 2021 Kalkine Media
GOOD READ: Why did NZ cease its travel bubble with NSW?
However, travel will be riskier as the country has now detected the Delta variant in the territory.
Caution is a must!
To maintain the balance between moving towards normality and battling the virus, it is of utmost importance that travellers strictly maintain social distancing rules. The borders are reopening partially, which is a good sign because through this government can simultaneously look upon the origin of the virus in the territory without hindering the travel bubble, but one must remember that the pandemic is not over-yet.
SOURCE: KALKINE MEDIA
.jpg){kind=tracking}