Earlier last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted that Australia might welcome international tourists as early as April.

“Opening international borders to inbound tourists is not that far away. Just a bit more work with the states is needed before we’re comfortable with the idea of doing so. Afterwards, I’d want to see us arrive at our goal before Easter, if not sooner, “Prime Minister Morrison said to Cairns radio station 4CA.

On November 1, 2021, fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their families started to travel without a travel exemption; this was followed on November 21, 2021, by fully vaccinated Singaporean citizens and residents to travel freely to Australia.

Vaccinated tourists and business travellers from Japan and the Republic of Korea have been able to travel directly to Australia since 15 December 2021.

Australia banned international arrivals after the World Health Organization declared the COVID outbreak a pandemic in March 2020.

However, it wasn’t until more than 20 months later that Australia began to open its borders. International students, skilled migrants, working vacationers, and refugees with valid humanitarian, temporary, and provisional family visas could enter Australia from December 15 2021.

The country is yet to issue tourist visas to travellers from most countries.

Source: SBS