SYDNEY – Australia reopened its borders to vaccinated tourists today, nearly two years after the continent nation imposed some of the world’s strictest Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The country closed its borders to almost everyone except citizens and residents in March 2020 in an attempt to slow surging Covid-19 case numbers.
The travel ban – which also barred citizens from going overseas without an exemption and imposed a strict cap on international arrivals – earned the country the nickname “Fortress Australia”.
There were jubilant scenes at the country’s two major international airports in Sydney and Melbourne today as family and friends finally embraced at arrivals after years apart.
Bernie Edmonds was emotional as he hugged his eight-year-old granddaughter, Charlotte, who had just landed in Sydney.
“It’s great to have her back,” he said. “She’s got to go again but we’ll get her back again.”
Fellow Sydneysider Jody Tuchin was excited to pick up her best friend, who she had not seen since 2018.
“He made it back just in time for my wedding in four days,” she said.
Meanwhile, Qantas pilot Paul Grant said it was “nice to have passengers back on again”.
A Qantas flight from Los Angeles was the first to touch down in Sydney at 6.20am (1920 GMT) followed by arrivals from Tokyo, Vancouver, and Singapore.
“It’s fair to say we’ve all been waiting a long time to welcome visitors back to Australia,” Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said.
The national carrier expects to bring more than 14,000 passengers into Australia this week – the start of what many believe will be a long, slow recovery for a tourism sector devastated by the pandemic.
“I think we’re going to see a very, very strong rebound,” Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said at Sydney airport, wearing a t-shirt with the words: “Welcome Back”.
Attracting tourists from China, previously Australia’s biggest market, would be difficult while Beijing enforces a zero-Covid policy, Tehan admitted.
“But as soon as that changes, Tourism Australia has been doing a lot of work to make sure that we will be ready to encourage those Chinese visitors to come.”
The Australian government has launched an AUD$40 million (RM120.5 million) advertising campaign to lure tourists back, but only 56 international flights are scheduled to land in Australia in the 24 hours after the reopening – far below pre-pandemic levels.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had “no doubt” traveller numbers will scale up in time. – AFP, February 21, 2022
