Hundreds of Australians are waiting to leave New Caledonia as the country’s main gateway remains closed.
[UPDATED 3pm, 21 May 2024]
However, following several days of uncertainty, many Aussies will soon be leaving New Caledonia after the federal government confirmed it would be sending two repatriation flights to Noumea.
On social media, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the flights would depart later on Tuesday.
“We’ve received clearance for two Australian government-assisted departure flights today for Australian and other tourists to depart New Caledonia,” she said.
“DFAT is contacting registered Australians. Passengers are being prioritised based on need. We continue to work on further flights.”
With the country’s main gateway, La Tontouta International Airport, closed, the flights will likely fly into Noumea’s domestic hub, Magenta Airport, which is closer to the city centre.
3,000 tourists trapped
According to AFP, around 3,000 tourists are thought to be stranded in New Caledonia. This includes more than 300 Australians and nearly 250 New Zealanders.
On Monday, the Australian Government increased its travel advice level for New Caledonia, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) now advising Aussies to reconsider their need to travel to the entire country due to ongoing civil unrest, bringing the rest of New Caledonia in line with the Noumea metropolitan area.
As French authorities attempt to retake control of the highway to La Tontouta, which would facilitate the reopening of the main airport, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the situation in New Caledonia “deeply concerning”.
Speaking to ABC Radio, he said the government had been pressing hard for two days for permission to send an evacuation flight to New Caledonia to pick up hotel-bound tourists.
Qantas told the ABC the airline was “in close contact with DFAT and Noumea Airport authorities and preparing to respond quickly to help get people to their destinations when it reopens”.
“We will continue to contact impacted customers directly with a range of options, including refunds,” a spokesperson said.
According to The Guardian, some tourists in hotels are concerned about food supplies, with residents struggling to get food and fuel.
Agents safe
Meanwhile, a large group of New Zealand travel agents and a few Aussie travel agents remain safe, albeit locked down, in Noumea.
Speaking to Karryon on Monday, New Caledonia Tourism representative in Australia and New Zealand, Caroline Brunel, said NZ agents attending a World Travellers conference in Noumea were due to leave the country the day after the civil unrest broke out, but were being looked after at the Hôtel Château Royal.
Two New Zealand travel agents confirmed to Karryon that they are still stranded in New Caledonia, but are “very safe”, with plenty of “beer and food”.
On its Smartraveller website, DFAT advises Australian citizens and permanent residents in New Caledonia to “register your location and contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s crisis registration portal”.
“The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea premises is temporarily closed. Australian officials remain in Noumea,” it adds.
“Australians needing emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 (within Australia) or +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).”
Tourism turnaround
While travel to New Caledonia will take a big hit from the unrest, tourism authorities are hopeful that with some time, it will be able to rebuild confidence among Aussie travellers.
“We’ll have to have a good strategy in place to encourage Australians to come back,” Brunel told Karryon.
The country successfully rebuilt tourism after the COVID pandemic – and last year even welcomed more Aussies than ever before, with more than 30,000 travellers visiting the country.
