Travel a minefield of border closures and confusion
The ‘c’ word has been bandied around a lot in the past week. Which one, you may ask, given the long list of possibilities.
The “c” word has been bandied around a lot in the past week. Which one, you may ask, given the long list of possibilities. Covid, clusters, cases, compliance checks, construction (workers). No, the “c” word in question is Christmas.
Last week, federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said vaccination rates were galloping along at such a pace our international borders should open by the festive season “at the latest”. Then Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk poked a pin in that little bubble of hope with her reluctance even to allow southerners to head north this summer. That was quickly followed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying reopening for Christmas was the “gift” state premiers should offer an 80 per cent vaccinated population. A couple of days later, Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young declared it was “reasonable” for the state’s tourism operators to prepare for the border to open. Meanwhile, Premier Mark McGowan has suggested he may keep WA’s doors locked until next April.
Now we have the PM suggesting international travel will be possible in November. By the time you read this, who knows what may have changed? All of which leads to some other “c” words – clarity and confidence. How can consumers make bookings – domestic or international – without fear of cancellation and loss of funds? How can airlines plan to get their fleet operational for the resumption of overseas flights? How can hospitality venues and tourism businesses ensure they have sufficient staff to cater to an influx of visitors, because when those starting gates spring open we’ll be sprinting out of confinement like prison escapees?
We’ve all been urged to arm ourselves in the vaccination rollout, but when it comes to overseas destinations, travellers will need to arm themselves with a lot of apps, paperwork and information too, and not just about quarantine rules on their return home.
Consider the countries Qantas reckons will be first cabs off the rank. At present, Britain and the US do not insist arriving passengers are fully vaxxed – but the airline they fly with might. They must have proof of a negative Covid test before departure and submit to another swab between two and five days after arrival. The unvaccinated have to self-isolate for seven days.
Canada is taking a tougher stance. When the time is right, only Australians who’ve had the full course of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson will be allowed in.
Singapore has backtracked on its earlier policy for short-term visitors from Australia, unless they’ve spent the preceding 21 days in a “vaccinated travel lane” country such as Germany or Brunei. Entry requirements for eligible travellers include having a negative Covid test result, submitting to another test on arrival at Changi airport, possessing a valid travel pass and travel insurance with minimum coverage of $30,000 in case of Covid infection.
So if all you want for Christmas is two tickets to Singapore, expect them to come with excess baggage. It’s going to be complicated.
