Australia says it will open to fully vaccinated travellers on February 21.
In welcome news for the battered and bruised Australian tourism industry, as well as Canadian and other airlines and worldwide tour companies, the Australian government today (Feb. 7) said it will end a nearly two-year-long ban on foreign travellers.
Reuters reports the announcement means that people can travel to Australia from anywhere in the world as long as they are double vaxxed; the first time that’s been allowed since March, 2020.
“If you’re double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” said Aussie Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Over the two years since the borders have been closed the industry has been on its knees,” Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley told Reuters by phone.
“Now we can turn our collective efforts towards rebuilding an industry that is in disrepair,” he added.
Australia has long been a popular destination for Canadian travellers, with 190,000 Canadian visitors travelling down under in 2019 pre-COVID.
“Tourism Australia is thrilled for the opportunity to welcome back visitors from Canada as travel resumes and people seek out once-in-a-lifetime experiences to go BIG in 2022 and beyond,” officials said in a statement today.
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From 21 February 2022, visa holders who are fully vaccinated with two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccine can travel to Australia quarantine-free, without the need to apply for a travel exemption. (Editor’s note: The TGA website for Australia states the following:
“We recognise all vaccines that are provisionally approved for use in Australia for incoming travellers. These include:
- Comirnaty (Pfizer)
- Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
- Spikevax or Takeda (Moderna)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen)
- Nuvaxovid (Biocelect on behalf of Novavax).”
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To be eligible to enter Australia, international travellers must:
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hold a valid Australian visa.
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be fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and provide proof of vaccination status.
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Present a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) or Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure (unless a medical exemption applies).
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As of 7 February 2022, fully vaccinated visa holders can enter all states and territories quarantine-free from 21 February 2022, except for Western Australia.
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Travellers will need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territories that they plan to travel to. Information on entry requirements is updated regularly so it is important to check the latest requirements before travelling. Travellers are also encouraged to check any requirements for stopover destinations that they are transitioning through.
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For requirements for travel into specific states and territories in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website | State and Territory Information.
For more information on travelling to Australia visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs I Travelling to Australia
New Zealand last week said it hopes to welcome all visitors back by October of this year.
Meanwhile, Canada continues to lag in terms of welcoming visitors. WestJet today said it will further extend its 20% flight reduction program until the end of March.
