Pack your bags! Australians could be able to travel overseas from July 1 – and not just to New Zealand
- Timetable has been released by Tourism Restart Taskforce of planned flight
- Plan has been approved by Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham
- Under the plan, Australians could travel to New Zealand and Pacific Islands
- Travellers won’t have 14-day quarantine and could return as they pleased
Australians will be able to travel to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands from July 1, according to a government-approved timetable.
A timetable has been released by the Tourism Restart Taskforce that shows a planned ‘proof of concept’ flight between Canberra and Wellington on July 1.
The plan – approved by Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham – was submitted to the ACT government, Seven News reported.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Tourism chairman John Hart said the Pacific Island countries would be part of the plan.
‘We are saying that New Zealand travel will definitely commence on July 1 and from September 10 we will consider whether other bubbles can commence,’ he said.
‘We have done a lot of discussion with the NZ side and they are saying we are good to go.
‘These two cities have had a very low incidence of COVID and several days and weeks with no cases, they are sister cities, capital cities and both hubs of business.’
Passengers on the first flight – expected to be government officials, media and businesspeople – will not need to go into 14-day quarantine and will be able to return home immediately.
An airline for the flight is yet to be chosen.
Mr Hart said it was also yet to be determined which other countries would be part of any extended bubble – expected to be brought in by September.