Australia could allow travel to New Zealand, create trans-Tasman bubble after COVID-19 travel restrictions are eased

(TAN): New Zealand could be the first country that Australia would reopen its borders to after its coronavirus-related travel restrictions are lifted, reports said.

According to reports, Australia’s Morrison government is expected to create a trans-Tasman ‘bubble’ free from COVID-19 with New Zealand so that leisure and business travellers can travel between the two nations that are said to be on “similar trajectories” in dealing with the pandemic.

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Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison reportedly confirmed that he has discussed the idea with his Kiwi counterpart, Jacinda Ardern.

“If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that’s New Zealand,” Prime Minister Morrison was quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald as saying.

Prime Minister Ardern reportedly said both the island nations have the same target in front of them – to tackle the pandemic in their respective countries first and then discuss a joint effort.

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“For both of us I anticipate the border restrictions will be present for a long time, so it becomes whether or not there’s anything we can build into our border restrictions that take into account our goals to keep COVID out for both of us,” Prime Minister Ardern was quoted by Executive Traveller as saying.

Australian Tourism Industry Council Executive Director Simon Westaway supported the plan and called it “very attractive”, as per reports.

“At some point our island has to start to connect up, it’s logical to look at New Zealand,” he was quoted by 3AW as saying.

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While nearly a third of all overseas visitors to New Zealand are Aussies, less number of Kiwis travel to Australia every year, reports said. Westaway reportedly said the idea would even then help Australia.

“On a good year … one-in-five visitors coming to our country are Kiwis,” he added.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Australia has 6,661 cases while New Zealand has reported 1,456 cases.

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