Australia’s future travel bubbles: Where you could go next
As travellers start planning their trips to NZ, these are the countries we could be forming our next travel bubbles with.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The much-anticipated bubble allowing quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is set to kick off on April 19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the agreement as a “win-win” that would mean more planes in the air and more jobs on the ground.
As eager travellers get ready to start planning their trips to NZ, we look at where Australia’s future travel bubbles could be.
SAMOA
With its stunning beaches and luxury resorts, Samoa is a much-loved destination for Australians.
Now the Pacific island is calling for a travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand, with tourism officials saying it is vital to help the nation recover from the economc challenges of the pandemic.
“Samoa Tourism welcomes the announcement (of the Australia-NZ bubble) as yet another important precursor to a broader Pacific travel bubble, which will restart tourism and allow a number of Pacific Islands, including Samoa, to rebuild and accelerate its economic recovery,” a statement from Samoa Tourism said.
“The establishment of a trans-Tasman travel bubble inspires confidence among Pacific tourism operators that a Pacific travel bubble is also inevitable.
“The health and safety of our local Samoan aiga (family), along with Australian and New Zealand travellers, remains our highest priority. We are confident that with vaccinations being rolled out, alongside the introduction of increased procedures - including contact tracing and regular testing - a strong framework has been developed.
the statement sad with no COVID-19 community transmissions, Samoa was “the perfect place for Australians and New Zealanders to feel a world away, without venturing far from the safety of their doorstep once the travel bubble has been established.
“We are looking forward to rebuilding the strong cultural connections between Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand, and welcoming visitors to our shores once again when it is safe to do so,” the statement.
THE COOK ISLANDS
Australians might be able to take advantage of the next travel bubble that is currently being set up between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced last week that the two nations were working towards a travel bubble by May.
Ms Ardern said with the Cook Islands COVID-free, there was a risk that travellers departing NZ could carry the virus and that Kiwis had “a lot of responsibility” to get it right.
Both leaders had aimed for two-way quarantine-free travel by the end of March, but that did not happen due to harsh lockdowns due to Auckland’s February cluster.
SINGAPORE
It’s long been one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations and many are hoping the proposed travel bubble with Singapore will become a reality.
The Morrison government has said it could happen by June and that the arrangement hinges on nations agreeing on a digital coronavirus vaccination travel passport.
Speaking on Nine’s Today last month, Minister Trade and Tourism Dan Tehan said he would be involved in key discussions with Singapore counterparts.
“One of the keys is making sure that we can get that vaccine passport validated,” Mr Tehan said.
“That will enable that two-way travel to occur, hopefully without quarantining down the track
What we need to do is get people moving again with the confidence to travel.”
Under the proposal, Australians who had received a COVID-19 vaccine would not need approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to travel to Singapore.
Singaporeans who had been immunised would be allowed to travel to Australia without undergoing two weeks in quarantine.
SOUTH KOREA
A travel bubble with South Korea is also a possibility for Australians.
South Korea is aiming for quarantine-free, international travel agreements to prop up the aviation industry struggling to survive amid a sharp fall in air demand.
“The country will push ahead with the signing of ‘travel bubble’ agreements for people to travel without restriction on the basis of the coronavirus situation (suitable for such pact),” Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during an emergency economic meeting last month.
The Minister said the South Korean government was set to launch a pilot program for a digital “travel pass” showing COVID-19 testing certificates.
JAPAN
Both Australia and NZ are on Japan’s list of priority nations for travel bubbles but there is still no confirmation on when this could happen.
Japan’s tourism has plummeted 99 per cent since the pandemic began and the nation has lost out on the chance to host thousands of visitors for the 2020 Olympics.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed last October that he was having discussions with Japan, but that it could be a long time in the making.
“Further afield, places like South Korea, Singapore and Japan, we have had good discussions with them but I think that is a bit further off,” Mr Morrison said.
“We have to go cautiously on this, very, very cautiously. COVID-19 hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still there, and it is no less aggressive today than it was six months ago.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said last month he believed more bubbles will open up as the coronavirus vaccine rollout continues across the globe.
More Coverage
Originally published as Australia’s future travel bubbles: Where you could go next
Join the conversation
State’s big move on cutting-edge vaccines
One Aussie state has revealed its next move on a major vaccine development project – which promises to change the way it responds to future health challenges.
Read more
$1.1m plan to overhaul Long Covid, chronic fatigue care
Guidelines to treat the 750,000-plus Australians who have Long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome are more than two decades old. See the plan to fix them.
Read more