ScoMo “fully anticipates” return of international tourists to Australia by end of year
Australia could be welcoming back international tourists, students and backpackers by the end of this year, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Morrison told the House of Representatives he “fully anticipates” the return of double-vaccinated overseas travellers, including backpackers and students to Australia, by the end of the year.
“We will be concluding very, very shortly our arrangements with Singapore, which next month will see particularly students and business travellers who are double vaccinated being the first to come to Australia out of Singapore,” he told Parliament on Wednesday.
“And we welcome the announcements made today in Singapore about Australians being able to travel there from 8 November.”
Singapore said it would extend its vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme to Australia for entry into the destination from 8 November 2021 on the same day Morrison made the remarks, with fully-vaccinated Australians allowed to enter Singapore without quarantine for all purposes of travel, after undergoing a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
“The national plan is working. Australia’s taking off on Monday. Australia has passed the UK in single-dose vaccinations. We are moving forward strongly under the national plan,” Morrison said.
The first international passenger flights have taken off from Sydney airport this morning after Australia’s overseas travel ban was lifted overnight.
QF12 from Los Angeles touched down in Sydney at 6:00am today, followed by Singapore Airlines’ SQ221 from Singapore at 6:05am and Japan Airlines’ JL51 from Tokyo at 6:30am with no border or quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers.
The first flight to arrive in Australia this morning was Singapore Airlines’ SQ212, which landed in Sydney at 9:05am, followed by United Airlines’ UA842 from LA at 10:20am and Delta’s DL40 also from LA at 11:20am.
QF1 (Sydney to London via Darwin) will be the first Qantas International flight to depart out of Sydney at 6.30pm.
So far, the countries Australians will be allowed to visit without having to undergo quarantine upon arrival include the UK, the US, Canada, Italy, Greece, Germany and South Africa, according to ABC News.
Since the government closed the international border in March 2020, Australians have been barred from leaving unless they obtain a special exemption.
NSW and Victoria have both promised to scrap quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated travellers from today.
Tasmania and South Australia will also scrap quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated travellers from 15 December and by the end of this year, respectively.
Queensland will keep its quarantine requirements in place until 17 December, when international travellers who are fully vaccinated and have returned a negative test will be allowed to home quarantine. It will scrap quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers once its vaccine rate reaches 90 per cent, most likely in early 2022.
With most states now providing clear reopening dates, international airlines have begun announcing their resumption of Australian flights, with a handful promising to return much earlier than expected.
Featured image source: Facebook/scottmorrison4cook
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
-
Latest comments
Latest News
CLIA shares new 2023 Global Cruise Industry Economic Impact Study
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has shared the highlights from the association’s new 2023 Global Economic Impact Study at the annual CLIA Cruise Forward conference. The study revealed the highest-ever global economic impact from cruise tourism and reaffirmed that 2023 surpassed 2019 as the benchmark year for cruise industry performance. It also confirmed the cruise […]
Air Tahiti Nui announces their new and exclusive flight deals
Air Tahiti Nui has announced they are wrapping up the year with the best gift of all, the release of their “Tahiti on Sale” exclusive flight fares. Whether it’s seeking serene waters or immersing in Tahiti’s cultural richness, these limited-time deals offer exceptional value for those travellers who want to experience the unparalleled beauty of […]
London Transport Commissioner takes an insider look at Sydney Metro
London’s Commissioner of Transport, Andy Lord, has toured the new Sydney Metro yesterday, hosted by the Tourism & Transport Forum. “We’re beyond delighted to welcome Commissioner Andy Lord to the fabulous city of Sydney,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said. “As a long-standing representative of transport, and now the most senior transport official in London, Andy […]
Fireworks as Brisbane celebrates official opening ceremony for Bluey’s World
Fans of the blue cartoon dog appreciated the fireworks display, but real dogs had to be locked away.
Remarkable wins at prestigious 2024 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards
Flying high at the Brolgas in Alice. Some shelf space will now be required for this well-deserved glassware.
Albatross guarantees all spring, summer and autumn 2025 departures
That's a healthy move saying you are 100 per cent certain you'll get the bookings you need. Get ready to fly.
Fremantle hosts the ultimate weekend party with BeerFest Australia
Ok, so its combining beer and yoga! Purists may have something to say about that, but embrace it, we say.
Australian tourism industry comes together for Tourism Australia-led industry initiative
Did you also look through that video and go: 'I know that face, and that one', 'Oh there's so and so'. We did!
Helloworld, VIVA Holidays and Tourism WA team up for bumper Dream Sale campaign
Keeping the momentum going after having just hosted the World Travel & Tourism Conference. So hot right now.
Three days at The Farm, San Benito: Rediscovering wellness and transformation Filipino Style
If you're planning on letting yourself go over the upcoming silly season, this might be a good idea to begin 2025.
You have just 3 days left to buy your earlybird tickets for the 2024 Women in Travel Awards
Apart from who is coming - are you? - one of the more important conversations around here is what to wear.
Liquid & Larder opens at The EVE Hotel Sydney
So many new bars and new dishes to try and so little time. This summer calls for a Sydney staycation
‘I’ve loved it!’ Club Med’s first Home Based Agent conference a winner across the park
A great week in Bali with Club Med. All we can say is we are looking forward to the next one!
Scoot announces new destinations with services commencing from December 2024
We've been talking destination duplication for an age now, and here is a cheap way to try a new tropical paradise.
Virtuoso unveils the Luxe Report | How the affluent are travelling in 2025
We hope the future of luxury travel has us in it somewhere... actually anywhere will do.
Virgin’s new inflight food and drink fiesta – including margaritas!
Is there a round trip where you can try several menu items in a row? Just asking?
Accor signs 27 new hotels in Asia, brings total to 495
We don't envy the regional manager who has to inspect every hotel room in this expanding portfolio.
TravelWorks at the forefront of modern day travel management solutions
Not interested in making the change? North Shore Travel boss Sam Young hasn't looked back since she did!
Volcanic activity grounds Bali-bound Flights as ash and smoke ‘blankets sky’
We strongly suggest you check your client's travel plans and maybe give them the heads up.
Inside Travel Group: The B-Corp Certified adventure specialist putting agents first
So hard to become B-Corp certified in travel, lucky for us there are 13 in Australia.
Eurostar celebrates three decades of rail with 30% off flash sale
One percent discount for every year... One can only guess what the sale will be when Eurostar hits 100!
Scenic Hotel Group appoints Brett Inkster as property development manager
Scenic Hotel Group has appointed Brett Inkster to the role of property development manager – Pacific Islands. A respected senior manager within Scenic Hotels for the past 25 years, Inkster has successfully supported initiatives to enhance operational efficiencies and foster strategic growth in leadership roles across the group’s properties in New Zealand and the Pacific […]
ATIA urges immediate action on aviation reforms in Senate Inquiry
Slot reform is long overdue - and obviously too late for REX and Bonza - but we will leave that to the experts.
Gold Coast to see debut of esteemed Mondrian hotel brand in Australia next year
Beach views, wellness offerings and a dreamy balcony pool. Yep, this one screams Gold Coast!
‘When you wish upon a star’ – Family of 4 rescued by Disney cruise ship
For a brand built upon tales of heroes and princesses, this news story seems all the more fitting.
Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough announces a summer glow-up
It's all happening in WA. If it wasn't so far away we'd have been there a few times this year to see for ourselves.
Qantas announces 72-hour sale to over 60 destinations across Australia
Nothing like a flash sale. Even if you don't have the money or the leave right now, you can still dream!
Qatar Airways continues IRONMAN support with Melbourne race
We were going to participate in the Ironman but sadly we were busy not participating.
Brand USA launches sports-themed famil incentive
This sounds like a pretty cool trip - time to start brushing up on your knowledge of the US.
CATO names Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner as guest speaker at 2024 Christmas Lunch
We imagine Skroo would be a pretty great Christmas lunch guest. Sort of like the uncle who doesn't mince his words.
InterContinental Hayman Island Resort has a new name
Okay spoiler alert for anyone clutching their pearls. The new name isn't that different.
OPINION: Dennis Bunnik – ‘Politicians from both sides have been gorging at the Qantas trough for years’
Dennis certainly has a way with words! An insightful piece from someone who knows the travel industry inside out.
Flight Centre Corporate welcomes REX’s $80m government loan
Flight Centre management are happy about this news. Although not as happy as REX management, we imagine.
To get the most out of France, take the Back-Roads
Just in case you needed more reasons to extend your visit to Europe in 2025, this is it!
CLIA Live tour grows to 8 cities in 2025
Forget Coldplay, this is the kind of tour that gets us TW journos excited!
Bullo River Station partners with Sibella Court for 2026 refurb
If Sibella has anytime leftover after this, our dining room could do with a bit of a spruce up.
Don’t be surprised if no-one wants to come here for a holiday for a long time. These idiot premiers and Morrison have destroyed Australia’s image. Our country is seen overseas as the worst example of vaccine tyranny in the world.