Tasmanians could travel to New Zealand before the mainland

Premier Peter Gutwein has not ruled out the possibility of Tasmanians being able to travel to New Zealand before the mainland as discussions continue with airlines and airports.

NO DATE has been set for when Tasmania's border restrictions will be eased, but discussions are continuing into a trans-Tasman travel bubble, which could see direct flights between Hobart and New Zealand.

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Premier Peter Gutwein said he would not rule out the possibility of air travel opening up between New Zealand and Tasmania before interstate borders reopen.

“One of the key markets that Tasmania has is the eastern seaboard of Australia, and I'm certain that when it's safe to do so, we will lower our borders and we’ll allow travel beginning again,” he said.

“We’ll do everything that we possibly can to ensure that the five to six million New Zealanders have the opportunity to have a good look at Tasmania as well when the time is right.”

Premier Peter Gutwein launched Tourism Tasmania's Make Yourself at Home campaign. Picture: Zak Simmonds

He said in past years, about 20,000 New Zealanders had travelled to Tasmania.

“A direct link, I think, would increase numbers of New Zealanders that would want to travel here, and importantly, the position that we hold within this country is one of the exemplars in terms of being virus-free,” Mr Gutwein said.

“We are in a very good place, but what’s important is what’s happening over the fence and what’s happening in other jurisdictions.”

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Mr Gutwein said discussions had been ongoing with airlines and airports, and also with the Federal Government on border control and quarantine arrangements for Hobart Airport.

“In early July, we will announce a date for when interstate travel can resume,” he said.

“I’m hopeful that when the international borders can come down that Tasmania can make a very attractive proposition for New Zealanders to come and visit us here direct.

“It's a matter for New Zealanders to determine if they want to land in Melbourne or Sydney – I would be encouraging them very strongly to land in Hobart.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said he did not think there was anyone not enthused about direct services to New Zealand.

“But frankly, the industry’s priority is about getting visitors from New South Wales not New Zealand,” he said.

“We want to see New Zealand as a growing market into the long-term, it's not a short-term proposition.”

Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald said the New Zealand market was a great opportunity for Tasmania.

“There’s 20,000 Kiwis pre-COVID that were visiting Tasmania without much stimulus in the market, so we think there is a customer in New Zealand [and] we think that a direct air flight would certainly stimulate the market greatly,” he said.

Labor leader Rebecca White said they welcomed the plans for Tasmania to become the gateway for the trans-Tasman bubble, but they would like more detail on how it would work if implemented.