Australia Opens Its Borders To Tourists After Almost 2 Years: Here's All You Need To Travel

Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from February 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday, ending some of the world's strictest and longest-running Covid-19 pandemic travel restrictions. The reopening of Australian borders for international tourists will end after a hiatus of almost two years.

"It's almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia," Morrison said after a meeting of the national security cabinet. He announced the borders will reopen to all visa holders "on the 21st of February of this year," adding, "if you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia."

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Conditions apply

¡°The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That¡¯s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,¡± he added. The states, however, will continue to be able to set their own quarantine rules.

Australia will be looking to boost its tourism industry with end of border restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign tourists. The hospitality sector Down Under has been hard-hit due to Covid-induced border restrictions and lockdowns, which was extended repeatedly in view of the emergence of new variants of concern.

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Effects of the pandemic

Australia's borders slammed shut in March 2020 in the hope of protecting the island continent against a surging global pandemic. For most of the time since then, Australians have been barred from leaving and only a handful of visitors have been granted exemptions to enter.

The rules have stranded nationals overseas, split families, hammered the country's multi-billion-dollar tourist industry, and prompted often bitter debates about Australia's status as a modern, open and outward-looking nation.

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The losses

Every month of border closures has cost businesses an estimated US$2.6 billion, according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The tourism industry in Australia has been hart-hit, which, generated over $84.9 billion in annual revenue prior to the pandemic, according to Tourism Australia. The annual revenue of the tourism sector plunged by 41% in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Restrictions still in place

Only a handful of countries remain closed to tourists -- among them Japan, China, New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations.

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Despite the announcement, travel within Australia will still be restricted. The vast state of Western Australia remains closed to most non-residents. It is currently easier to travel from Sydney to Paris than Sydney to Perth.