TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS - October 2020
Oct 2020
Oct 02, 2020
Australia Opens Travel Zone to New Zealanders
New Zealanders are to be granted access to Australia in the first opening of international borders by either nation since Covid restrictions were imposed.
People will be able to fly from New Zealand to New South Wales and the Northern Territory - and avoid mandatory quarantine - from 16 October.
The nations closed their borders in March in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Officials say the risks are now low enough to justify a "travel bubble".
"The establishment of a travel zone between Australia and New Zealand has been finalised," said Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
"This is the first stage in what we hope to see as a trans-Tasman bubble between the two countries, stopping not just at that state and that territory."
At first, travel will be limited to New Zealanders.
Mr. McCormack said that a decision on when Australians may be able to visit New Zealand would be up to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.