Singapore travel bubble talks spark hope for SA’s $2bn international student sector

International students could fly back to Adelaide via Singapore, as Australia holds talks to launch a new travel bubble within months.

A travel bubble with Singapore would help overseas students return to South Australia, sparking fresh hope for the state’s $2bn international education sector.

The Federal Government is in early talks with Singapore to establish a travel bubble, but Tourism Minister Dan Tehan is optimistic it could be launched by mid-2021.

Study Adelaide chief executive Karyn Kent welcomed the potential for a travel corridor as a very positive development and “definitely a step in the right direction”.

But it was too early to say whether international students may be able to return to Adelaide in significant numbers for second semester, she said.

“The fact that all borders are open in Australia is a really good sign, and I think also the commencement of the vaccination rollout is a really good sign,” Ms Kent said.

“A lot can happen in three months, so we remain hopeful that things will continue in the right direction.”

A State Government spokesman said the plans for a travel bubble would provide opportunities for international students to return SA “dependent on all necessary quarantine requirements being met”.

“We’re keen to have international students return to their studies as soon as it is safe to do so, but recognise that the current global COVID-19 pandemic is complex, and we will always put the safety of South Australians first, while also ensuring the safety of international students,” he said.

International students could fly back to Adelaide via Singapore, as Australia holds talks to launch a new travel bubble within months. Picture: Damian Shaw

SA’s trial to fly up to 300 students back to Adelaide has yet to go ahead, despite the State Government flagging it would occur “early” in 2021 after being paused due to the Parafield Cluster in November.

“The international student pilot program remains a priority for the State Government and we continue to liaise with airlines and work with the Commonwealth to explore all travel options to bring back international students in 2021, including the use of scheduled commercial and charter flights,” the spokesman said.

International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said there was precedent for Singapore being a transit hub, as the Northern Territory flew more than 60 students from a number of countries back to Darwin via Singapore in November.

“Singapore, like Australia, has been able to prove it can manage Covid-19 effectively,” he said.

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge told The Advertiser: “There are many variables that need to be considered before we could look at quarantine-free travel for international students.”

“Of course we want to see international students return to Australia, but we need to make sure it’s done safely and without impacting Australians who want to return home,” he said.

Mr Tehan on Monday said a “vaccine passport” would be crucial to establishing the travel bubble.

Originally published as Singapore travel bubble talks spark hope for SA’s $2bn international student sector