Attributing its success in containing the COVID-19 spread to its policy of closing international borders, Australia plans to keep it that way till 2021. By Kumar Shree
Those looking forward to visiting Australia anytime soon, and the resident Aussies dreaming of a trip abroad, might need to hold back their plans for some time as their Tourism Minister has hinted at keeping the borders closed until next year.
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As reported by ABC News, Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham declared that Australia’s success in suppressing COVID-19 has taken place because of shutting the country’s borders, and they plan on continuing with the same strategy. “I do sadly think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off,” he said to the National Press Club. “Just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first,” he added.
When enquired specifically about whether the border would open next year, he responded, “I think that is more likely the case.”
Some exceptions include the return of international students back to the country and business travel in selected cases. While many other restrictions are gradually lifted to bring Australia out of the lockdown, international travel for those looking to go out of the country and those looking to come in stands off-radar.
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Talking more about safely resuming things back to the older normal, Birmingham further 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.”
It seems like domestic travel would become the talk of the hour in Australia.
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