As early as Easter 2022, international tourists could be back in Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told 4CA radio in Cairns that he thinks the country would be accessible to international tourism by Easter 2022.
Morrison has a hopeful view, but he is wary of confirming a precise date.
“Well I can’t give you a specific date yet … and that’s because we’re just watching how Omicron is sort of washing over the eastern states,” he said.
“I’d like to see us get there soon — certainly before Easter, well before Easter.”
“We’ve just 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 (reopening),” Morrison added.
The declaration came only days after the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry encouraged the National Cabinet and the Federal Government to make reopening the international border a priority.
“The tourism sector was one of the first to feel the huge costs of COVID-19. The international border has been closed to tourist markets for 678 days and counting,” John Hart, Executive Chair of Australian Chamber – Tourism said in a statement.
“As a matter of priority, the federal government must expedite the reopening of our international borders to all fully vaccinated travelers, a move that will provide the tourism industry with confidence to resume their operations.”
Only Australian citizens and permanent residents, their families, and those with specific visas and exemptions are permitted to enter the nation under existing limitations.
