Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan has revealed the nations that Australia is considering having travel bubbles with, once the country reaches its goal that 80% of eligible citizens be vaccinated against COVID.
In late July, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had laid out the country’s tentative goals for when tourism could begin. However, at the time, there was no mention of what countries would be considered.
That’s now been clarified.
“When we get to phase C, where we see 80% are fully vaccinated, outbound international restrictions will be lifted and travel bubbles will be expanded,” Mr. Tehan told federal parliament last Wednesday.
“So not only will we have travel bubbles with New Zealand but the Pacific Islands, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the U.S., the U.K. are all possibilities that we will be able to extend our travel bubbles to.
“It means dollars in tourism businesses and more importantly it means security for the 660,000 people who are employed in our tourism industry.”
In late July, only about 14% of Australia’s eligible population had been fully vaccinated, and just shy 1/3 of Australians had gotten 1 dose.
That’s now increased to a whopping 34.2% are fully vaccinated, and 57.5% have gotten one dose (as of August 28).
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia 🇦🇺 as of 28 August 2021 📅
💻Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/lsM33j9wMW pic.twitter.com/gn9xYbfiqJ
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) August 29, 2021
Back in late July, Morrison believed the country could reach its goals “by the end of the year.” It looks as if they’re well on their way.
The operative phrase, of course, is that “outbound international restrictions” would be lifted when they reach 80%. No word yet on inbound international travel, which travelers in the U.S. are more interested in.
Hopefully by late 2021, we’ll have enough people vaccinated and significant reductions in infection such that Australia might be OK with us visiting them, as well.
Feature Photo: Maxpixel
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
4 comments
Just politicians talking. A travel bubble between the US and Oz is just suicide for Canberra. Why would they want hoards of infected Americans?
Frankly, I agree. But….this is what they said, so…
Note that I am American.
Ditto. And we, as a country, are still hot Covid mess.