Time to get excited! PM Scott Morrison has today announced that Australia will allow all double vaccinated foreign travellers to return from 21 February.
After almost two years of foreign travellers not being allowed to come to the country, fully vaccinated tourists will be able to arrive in a matter of days.
The decision comes following a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee on Monday.
Mr Morrison said that Australia will now welcome back international visitors who are doubly vaccinated.
“I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that, and over the next two weeks they’ll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.”
State-based caps on quarantine will also continue, with the caps still being determined by state and territory governments.
While the international borders have been opened since late 2021, entry has only been allowed for citizens, permanent residents and their families, with it later expanded to international students, backpackers and migrant workers.
Former deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth had said earlier today that the timing was right for the border reopening to expand to tourists.
“It’s a really important sign for Australians that things are back on the path to normality,” he told the Nine Network.
“The fact that we’re going to have people coming into the country, students and tourists who have been vaccinated, that’s a safe policy and the right time to do it.”
Dr Coatsworth said the high vaccination rates across the country meant it was safe to let tourists back into Australia.
“I don’t think we can restrict this too much, to be honest, we can safely open borders to people who have had the primary course,” he said.
More to come.