“Pack your bags”: Australia will reopen its borders on Monday after two years of coronavirus restrictions

Australia will reopen its international borders to vaccinated tourists on Monday, nearly two years after the pandemic imposed some of the world’s strictest travel restrictions.

“The wait is over”, said this Sunday at a press conference the Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“Pack your bags”launched potential visitors, adding: “Don’t forget to bring money, because you will find many places to spend it.”

The first flight to Sydney Airport will arrive from Los Angeles at 06:00 local time on Monday (19:00 GMT on Sunday), followed by others from Tokyo, Vancouver and Singapore.

The arrival of 56 international flights to Australia in the 24 hours after reopening, a volume well below what it was before the pandemic, although Morrison assured that he “has no doubt” that this number will increase in a short time.

Australia closed its borders to almost everyonewith the exception of its citizens and resident foreigners, since March 2020, in its attempt to stop the increase in the number of infections by covid-19.

This travel ban also affected its citizens, who could only move abroad with just cause.

According to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, each month of such restrictions cost businesses about A$3.6 billion (US$2.6 billion), with tourism particularly hard hit.

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