The prime minister has announced the date for quarantine-free travel into Australia, following a government decision to re-open international borders now that most of the nation has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
From November 21, fully vaccinated travellers coming from Singapore to Australia will be able to enter NSW and Victoria if they return a negative PCR test result for COVID-19.
On Monday the prime minister issued a statement revealing the date had been agreed to with Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome at the weekend.
“This means within weeks Australia will be welcoming tourists from two of our top ten travel destinations. This is the billion-dollar boost that Australia’s tourism industry has been waiting for,” Morrison said.
“Step by step, everything that we know and love about Australia is inching back to normal.”
A tremendous effort by Australians! 75% of those aged 16+ are now fully vaccinated against COVID.
We’re on track to be one of the highest vaccinated countries in the world.
Now let’s bring this home across the country so we can continue to safely reopen and stay safely open. pic.twitter.com/KeY0E6ZVZr
— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) October 28, 2021
In recent weeks Singapore had made a reciprocal announcement about welcoming fully vaccinated Australian travellers to its shores. Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said that the arrangement was testament to the friendship between both nations and the ‘effective management of COVID’ on both Singapore and Australia’s part.
“Many Australians live and work in Singapore and vice versa. The strong exchanges over many decades have been to the benefit of both our nations,” Payne said.
“As we continue with our shared regional recovery from the pandemic, the resumption of travel between Singapore and Australia will provide great opportunities to move forward.”
Under the agreement, eligible travellers entering Australia must be Singaporeans who depart from Singapore. They will not be required to have spent 14 days in Singapore prior to travel, nor will they need to quarantine upon arrival in Australia.
The news follows another announcement last month that Australia would be welcoming tourists from New Zealand in October.
Australia’s trade minister, Dan Tehan, said that with borders reopening, Australia could resume its mantel as a ‘popular, world-leading destination’.
“This is just the start of our international tourism comeback,” Tehan said.
“Australia’s tourism operators and the sector’s 660,000 workers will welcome back with open arms visitors from Singapore.”
“This is another significant milestone in our step-by-step approach to safely reopening to the world that we outlined in the national plan,” Morrison added.
DFAT’s Smartraveller website was also updated with new country-specific travel advice for 177 nations from Monday.
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