Source::AP
After the long wait in one of the most restrictive quarantine and lockdown measures in the world, the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison has announced that the border will open to all vaccinated travels from Feb 21, further relaxing its pandemic restrictions with its neighbour New Zealand.
In November 2021, the increasing rates of vaccination in the country allowed the government to relax border restrictions but this particular lull in restrictions was prioritized for international students and skilled migrants coming back to Australia.
But with due to two students coming back to Australia carrying the Omicron variant, the borders restrictions were delayed to Nov 27 and then to Dec 15.
Only now, has full border restrictions against all travellers have been relaxed. Now, while vaccinated people can come back to Australia, like with Djokovic case's gaining visas through an automated process does not guarantee travel requirements to the country. If visitors could provide proof or a medical reason for not being able to take the vaccine could apply for a vaccine exemption for travel.
This decision by the Australian government came over many tourism operators lobbied for the government to bring tourists back together. The Australian Tourism Export Council, the body that constitutes the nation's tourism exports sector, is looking forward to rebuilding their markets after the news of opening borders.
