Highlights
- On 1 November 2021, Australia allowed fully vaccinated Australians, permanent residents and their families to travel without a travel exemption
- On 21 November 2021, Australia allowed fully vaccinated Singaporean citizens travelling directly from their home country
- On 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated Japanese and the Republic of Korea citizens, tourists and business travellers were allowed to travel directly from their home country: DHA
Mr Morrison on Friday suggested that Australia is preparing to open its borders for international tourists as early as April.
"I don't think it's too far away, to be honest, John. But we've just got to get some medical advice further on that, a bit more work to do with the states to make sure we're comfortable about it. And then I'd like to see us get there soon, certainly before Easter, well before Easter," PM Morrison told .
Australia had banned international arrivals after the World Health Organisation declared the COVID outbreak a pandemic in March 2020.
However, more than a year later, Australia opened its borders in a phased manner. On 15 December 2021, it allowed the return of fully vaccinated international students, skilled migrants, working holiday makers and refugees humanitarian, temporary and provisional family visa holders.
The country is yet to issue tourist visas to travellers from most countries.
Shyam Das, president of the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ), has welcomed the news.
Tourism Australia says India was the fastest growing inbound tourism market for Australia for three consecutive years before the start of the COVID pandemic. Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins
"Travelling is very important because people get frustrated when they cannot meet their loved ones. So it is excellent news for the community, international students, country and the economy," Mr Das, who runs a travel agency, told SBS Hindi.
"The tourism industry has suffered the most in the past two years. Had the government not helped us, our businesses wouldn't have survived. The opening of borders for tourists will give a boost to the economy as things have already begin to look good," he said.
Tourism Australia's India office said India has been the fastest-growing inbound tourism market for Australia.
"Prior to the onset of the pandemic, India was the fastest growing inbound tourism market for Australia, for three consecutive years i.e. between 2017 to 2019, and delivered over 400,000 arrivals for year ended February 2020," it told SBS Hindi in a statement.
"Consumer confidence (as measured by Tourism Australia's Consumer Sentiment Tracker) amongst Indians is at an all-time high and so is the travel and booking intent," it added.
