Double-vaccinated travellers may need to quarantine under changes to fully-vaxxed definition

The Chief Minister hasn’t ruled out sending double-jabbed tourists to Howard Springs if changes are made to the Territory’s definition of ‘fully vaccinated’. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

DOUBLE-vaccinated international tourists may be subject to restrictions or even 14 days quarantine if they fly into the Northern Territory during the dry season.

Victoria has become the first Australian state to require arrivals to be triple-vaccinated, despite Australia’s borders being thrown open to double-vaccinated tourists on February 21.

That means double-jabbed tourists who are eligible for entry by the federal government’s border security could be barred from hospitality venues as soon as they step foot on Victorian soil.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has raised the prospect that the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ could be changed in coming months to include a third or even fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the same scenario could be experienced by double-vaccinated arrivals in April.

International travellers may once again be ferried to Howard Springs for 14 days isolation, if the NT government changes the definition of fully-vaccinated. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL via NCA NewsWire

Mr Gunner said the definition of fully vaccinated being changed to include the booster dose would likely be aligned with the mandate coming into force for most Northern Territory workers on April 22.

“I think three doses will be the definition of fully vaccinated very soon,” he said.

“If you look at our CHO direction, mid-April is when you have to have your booster by to be fully vaccinated for the worker’s mandate.”

Mr Gunner said the definition could be changed again to include a fourth dose. He hinted that the NT government could still restrict the activities of people who had not received their third dose.

“The Australian Government often decides who comes into the country – once you step into the Northern Territory you are subject to the (chief health officer) directions.

“It would be 14 days quarantine or a testing regime.”

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce has warned changes made by the NT government, made out of step with the rest of the nation, could “kill” a bumper dry season.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews raised the prospect of restrictions on double-vaccinated overseas arrivals into his state.

Call for campaign to showcase Territory to the world

RIVAL states are mounting a charm offensive to lure lucrative tourism dollars away from Northern Territory operators, threatening their recovery.

It comes as international borders are set to reopen to all double-vaccinated overseas travellers on February 21, prompting Tourism Central Australia to call for the government to scale up marketing.

Hospitality NT has called for certainty around the NT government’s border rules, with fears a changing definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ could bar Europeans from the Territory.

Queensland will in coming days unveil a major tourism campaign targeting interstate travel, including the Territory.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford has urged the NT government to beef up advertising, particularly with Australia opening its international borders to tourists within a fortnight.

“(The reopening) is bloody awesome news for the tourism industry of the Northern Territory,” Mr Rochford said.

While Tourism Central Australia was not expecting “planeloads” of tourists to arrive as soon as borders reopened, Mr Rochford was hopeful for a “slow increase through 2022”.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford. Picture: File.

“The fact that we have one of the world’s icons in Uluru, we think we’ll see a real quick turnaround in arrivals coming into the Red Centre through the course of 2022.”

But Mr Rochford urged the NT government to expedite any plans for an international tourism campaign blitz.

“One of the critical things we need support from the Northern Territory government for is rescaling our international marketing,” he said.

During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, international tourism campaigns were scaled back due to closed borders. Mr Rochford warned the government needed to be quick to revive its overseas promotion of the Territory.

“The global tourism industry will be in such a competitive state that the Northern Territory will be prominent and front of mind for visitors.”

An NT government spokesman said it was “backing industry to ensure tourism and hospitality are a major driver of our economic recovery”.

Against the domestic campaign, particularly by Queensland, the spokesman cited five measures, including a summer campaign to drive visitors to Central Australia in the warmer months.

“We are working with industry and major partners to maximise our opportunities and help tourism rebound,” the spokesman said.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said he was excited about the return of international backpacking, with hopes it may help fill up labour shortages at venues.

But Mr Bruce said the NT government needed to unveil a long-term road map.

The federal government has ruled international arrivals must be double-vaccinated, but the NT government has openly said it will change the definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ to include a booster dose in coming months.

Mr Bruce said this definition could run into problems, since fully vaccinated Europeans who were then infected with Covid-19 weren’t required to have a third dose for six months afterwards.

“We’re on track for a big dry season again, and a healthier labour markets, but any changes to the rules will kill it.” He called for the NT to adopt a nationally-consistent set of border rules.

It comes after the Sunday Territorian revealed a new TV tourism campaign for domestic travellers to the NT.

Originally published as Double-vaccinated travellers may need to quarantine under changes to fully-vaxxed definition