Highlights
- International travel for Australian unlikely this year
- Trans-Tasman travel bubble under negotiation
- Federal government encourage for States and Territory to open up their borders
- Overseas students may be allowed to return to Australia
International visitor arrivals plunged 99.7 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, and hoteliers, campsites, restaurants and resorts are unlikely to fully recoup the loss following any increase in domestic tourism by travel-restricted Aussies.
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said Australia has been largely successful in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus, which it attributes to curbs on international travel and tough social-distancing rules and it would not be lifted for general travel any time soon.
Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club. “But I do, sadly, think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off, just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first.”
Asked whether that meant the border would not open until next year, he said, "I think that is more likely the case".
Senator Birmingham told The Australian Financial Review: "It’s sadly very unlikely that our health crisis is likely to facilitate an opening to international travel this year."
Trans-Tasman bubble
Despite talk of a “travel bubble” with New Zealand or other countries that have few coronavirus cases, Senator Birmingham warned travellers not to get their hopes up.
Talks between the two nations are underway and an expert panel has submitted a report to both governments on how it might work.
There is still no timeframe on when it might happen though, with New Zealand's Foreign Minister warning the plans are being held up by state border closures in Australia.
Domestic Borders Restrictions
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has again urged Australians to consider a holiday at home.
Australians spent more than $65 billion on overseas holidays last year and the Government wants some of that money spent domestically instead.
Some borders between States and Territories are now being relaxed after locked down for sometimes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
There are no border restrictions in either New South Wales, Victoria or the ACT.
A road block in Queensland last month. Source: AAP
South Australia has opened its borders to Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania, with others to be welcomed from July 20.
Mandatory hotel quarantine has been dropped in the NT while Tasmania's border closure will be revisited early next month.
Queensland has been working towards a July reopening although Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned restrictions won't be lifted if there's active transmission interstate.
While in WA, Premier Mark McGowan is standing firm on his decision to keep the border closed until it's "healthy and safe" to open again.
The Federal Government has been ramping up pressure on the and will intervene in three court challenges against the closures in WA and Queensland, with Attorney-General Christian Porter saying the Commonwealth will argue the restrictions are unconstitutional.
Overseas Students
Australia could allow international students back into the country sooner, as long as they are prepared to serve out a two-week quarantine period.
Some international students will be let back into the country to study from next month as part of "pre-approved" pilot programs and Senator Birmingham has suggested some business travel may also be opened up.
"I think those who might not only be international students, but be here for longer-term work purposes or longer-term business and investment purposes, logically you can extend those sort of same safeguards to them and their state," he said.
"I hope that we can look eventually at some of those countries who have similar successes in suppressing the spread of COVID to Australia and New Zealand, and in working through that with those countries, find safe pathways to deal with essential business travel that helps to contribute to jobs across our economies."
International students could return to Australia next month if states open their borders. Source: Pexel Stanley Morales
