Tourism seeks Asia bubble after New Zealand launch

Tourism bodies are urging the Morrison government to provide a road map for future travel bubbles as the nation takes its first steps to resume international aviation.

Greg and Jill Siddle welcome their grandchildren Holly, 5, Chloe, 7, and Max Cooper, 4, from New Zealand at Sydney International Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Tourism bodies are urging the Morrison government to provide a road map for future travel bubbles as the nation takes its first steps to resume international aviation with the commencement of two-way quarantine-free flights with New Zealand.

The trans-Tasman bubble will now be a two-way corridor, allowing New Zealanders and Australians to travel between the two countries without a two-week stint in hotel quarantine at either end. A one-way bubble allowing New Zealanders to enter some Australia states without undertaking hotel quarantine had been in place since mid-October.

Scott Morrison said the commencement of the two-way travel bubble was a “milestone” and a “win-win” for both countries that would boost each economy.

“Both countries have done a remarkable job in protecting our communities from COVID, and two-way flights are an important step in our road out,” he said.

Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said the “key target” for Australia’s tourism market remained Asia, North America and Europe because of their high-yield tourists. But he said having open borders with New Zealand would help instil confidence in the government to pursue more bubbles in other markets. The Prime Minister last week nominated Singapore as the next country for a travel bubble.

Mr Westaway said the travel industry needed an “updated plan” for how the federal government was planning to reopen to other destinations, particularly Asia.

“It’s important that we have a forward plan and a forward timeline so that the industry can work towards realistic goals and a realistic reopening timetable for other international markets that can safely and efficiently move people backwards and forwards. South-East Asia is a key next step for our industry,” he told The Australian.

Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond agreed there was still no certainty for the sector, particularly after wage subsidy JobKeeper ended last month.

“We’re happy that the Prime Minister is thinking constructively about reopening international borders but it seems to change every week,” she said.

The industry had three key priorities: certainty around state borders, an efficient vaccine rollout, and an early reopening of international borders, she said.

“We are still in Struggle Street big time, and while the trans-Tasman bubble opening will be good for confidence and allow for a proof of concept in terms of managing that border, we’re still quite a way off being able to welcome the types of guests we would like to see coming into Australia,” she said.

Over the weekend, Mr Morrison flagged that vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas and return via home quarantine in the second half of the year, but warned the federal government would not rush the lifting of international border restrictions. Mr Morrison said his first goal to reconnect Australia to the rest of the world would be allowing vaccinated Australians to go overseas for “important purposes” like work and medical reasons and quarantine at home upon their return. Vaccinated Australians already abroad would also return home in the same way.

While uncertainty remains over the next steps of reopening international borders, Australia’s closest neighbour will now be a quarantine-free flight away.

For Sydney grandmother Jill Siddle, the eve of the trans-Tasman bubble reopening was marked with a reunion with her three grandchildren — Chloe, 7, Holly, 5, and Max, 4 who live in Auckland with her daughter. Ms Siddle, who normally travels to New Zealand multiple times a year for family birthdays, had not seen her grandchildren and daughter for 18 months.

“It was overwhelming seeing them. We’ve been waiting so long to see them. Then suddenly when the bubble happened, they were straight on to organising flights,” she said.