Canberra: After they were closed in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia on Friday made the decision to reopen its borders to international travellers from New Zealand, however in a restricted limit.
From Friday onwards, travellers from New Zealand can have access to the entry of New South Wales (NSW) and the Northern Territory (NT) without having to go through 14 days in isolation, informs Xinhua news organization.
Over 350 travellers were booked to show up in Sydney on three flights.
It marks the first occasion when that travellers from abroad have been permitted into Australia since Prime Minister PM Scott Morrison shut the nation’s borders in March to forestall the spread of COVID-19.
Glen Hingley, CEO of Tourism Top End, stated that families re-joining after months separated made up most of the first travellers yet the scheme would give a significant lift to the travel industry.
He revealed to News Corp Australia on Friday: “There are half a million Kiwis living in Australia, and we know people reuniting is an important motivator for travel, We also know that New Zealand tourists like to explore and discover, and while they have traditionally favoured Australia’s east coast, the Territory gives unique and different experiences that could appeal to many of them.”
While the travel between the nations has been opened on a strictly one-way premise, Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, on Friday offered trust that Australians could before long visit New Zealand.
Air New Zealand announced that around 90% of all tickets sold on its flight are one-way.
Peters said to Nine Network television: “I think in Australia’s case, we are only a few days away to be able to say certain states are on top of (the virus) so to speak.”
He included: “Australia is going so well then you had that huge spike in Melbourne and that’s very, very sad. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
The nation’s domestic borders are relied upon to greatly reopen by December this year to permit travel inside Australia; in any case, Western Australia may not lift limitations until April 2021
