International tourists and business travellers could finally be allowed to come back to Australia before Easter, according to the PM Scott Morrison.
Speaking in an interview on Cairns radio station 4CA on Friday, PM Scott Morrison said while a specific date had not been set yet for a return for overseas tourists and business travellers, it could come soon.
“I don’t think it’s too far away, to be honest, but we’ve got to get some medical advice further on that, a bit more work to do with the states to make sure we’re comfortable about it,” He said.
“And then I’d like to see us get there soon, certainly before Easter, well before Easter.”
Since international borders reopened in late 2021, only vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families, along with international students and skilled workers have been allowed to enter quarantine-free.
Mr Morrison said the COVID-19 situation was being monitored closely before a date could be set for an international tourist resumption.
“We’re just watching how Omicron is sort of washing over the eastern states at the moment, but with Omicron peaking, then that starts opening up opportunities,” he said.
“As those arrangements relax for fully vaccinated arrivals, then you’re going to see people coming back, and with that in place, then international visitors being able to return becomes very possible.”
Last week, the Australian travel and tourism industry united to lobby local and federal government MP offices as part of a ‘National travel day of action.’
Campaign organiser, Belle Goldie, who owns an itravel agency in Penrith in Western Sydney, said in a statement that the mental and financial toll on people in the travel and tourism sector was horrendous and becoming worse.
Ms Goldie said she is just months away from having to abandon her 22-year career in the industry, due to the ongoing restrictions and lack of hope for the sector.
“I would rather go down fighting and speaking up than see my business, in which I’ve invested my family’s life savings, die slowly and silently on its knees,” said Ms Goldie.
