Australia shut its international borders in March 2020. After the fatal virus shook the world, Australia was among the first few countries to take heavy precautions to safeguard its people. However, after waiting for about 18 months, Australians are finally approaching the doors of international travel.
Australia’s battle against COVID-19
Australia’s performance in battling the virus has been dynamic: full of ups and downs. The country performed well in the first wave of the virus and thus proceeded with the travel bubble with New Zealand.
However, things went slightly downhill with the high transmission rate of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. With the rising number of cases and slow vaccination process, the travel bubble got suspended and lockdowns were imposed in the major parts of the country.
But, thankfully, with timely lockdown impositions and robust vaccination in the later stage, Australia is finally coming out of the rut of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the country’s government officials and medical staff have accelerated the vaccination process, targeting to vaccinate 80% of the total 16 years of age and above before Christmas.
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Australia plans on lifting the travel ban, allowing fully vaccinated Australians to travel internationally. For the last 18 months, since March 20, 2020, Australians have been under strict lockdown conditions. However, as the country reaches close to its mark of vaccinating 80% of people of 16 years of age and above, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hinted that that Australians might be allowed to travel internationally from November onwards.
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However, Australian borders would not be open for foreign travellers. The government officials have announced that Australia’s borders will remain close for foreign tourists for 2021. Additionally, once Australia welcomes international visitors, skilled labourers and international students would be given priority.
Shedding light on the nitty-gritty of the plan
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Sydney Airport would be the first open airport for international travel. Additionally, New South Wales would be the first state to reach the benchmark of 80% of double vaccination.
Qantas Airways has announced that they are resuming international flights for Australians from November 14 onwards to London and Los Angeles. Morrison also emphasised the plan for arranging a complete quarantine free travel arrangement between Australia and New Zealand.
To become more vaccine inclusive and assist hassle-free travel plans for Aussies overseas, Australia recently added China’s Sinovac and India’s Covishield to a list of authorised vaccines for Australians.
Scott Morrison said, “We’ve saved lives. We’ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country.”
However, international borders would be closed for foreign visitors. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, Australia’s immigration is now at its lowest ever since World War 2. The country’s education sector also fears if Australia doesn’t open its borders for international students, they might enrol in universities in other countries.
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Nevertheless, Australians can finally travel to a foreign land and relish the beauty of the tourism sector once again. Before the pandemic, the tourism sector had a year-on-year growth of 11% and maintained growth of 7.25% over the past five years. Every year, Australians spend billions of dollars on international travel. Finally, after a couple of rough months, Aussies will get to be back in the realm of travel and tourism, fearlessly and effortlessly.
SOURCE: KALKINE MEDIA
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