November 24 2021
The managed isolation system at NZ's border is being dismantled for fully vaccinated Kiwis and travellers will be able to bypass it from early next year. It comes as officials announced there are 215 Covid-19 cases today.
A Tauranga travel agent says the end of the managed isolation system at New Zealand's border is like "an early Christmas present".
However, a Bay of Plenty tourism operator thinks there is still a long way to go.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins today announced plans to ease international travelrestrictions in 2022.
Hipkins said from January 17 fully vaccinated New Zealanders would be able to travel from Australia without going through MIQ, though travellers would still need to self-isolate at home for seven days.
From February 14, fully vaccinated Kiwis can travel from all other countries. And from the end of April, all other fully vaccinated travellers can come into New Zealand without needing to go into MIQ.
Everyone needed to do the right thing, take precautions and face it ''one day at a time,'' she said.
''I'm so happy and it was unexpected news which has made it even better.''
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said the news was "the announcement we've been waiting for."
"It will give our tourism operators and accommodation providers a huge boost."
Nathan said the April opening to international travellers was expected.
"We will miss out on cruise ship visitors this summer. But it allows us to adequately prepare for the 2022/23 cruise season which will begin around September."
Nathan said the most important things businesses could do to prepare was to get vaccinated.
"This will help our whole region to fully operate and succeed in the best possible traffic light setting.
"I'm sure this is what international travellers will expect from us when our borders open and they start arriving here too."
House of Travel Pāpāmoa, Mt Maunganui and The Crossing owner-operator Tanya Aitken said the announcement was ''brilliant''.
''The reality is that's all we could have asked for at this time was some guidance on the borders. That is not just tourism but the whole country just needs to know so they can plan.''
She said agents had spent a lot of time speculating with customers on when and what they could do.
''So this just provides certainty for everyone to start making some decisions and planning in their life. To be honest it feels a bit surreal but we are very excited.''
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mark Mitchell
''There are emails flying around everywhere.''
House of Travel Tauranga owner Shane Kennedy said it was a step in the right direction.
''It's all about building everyone's confidence.''
He said there was no doubt the industry has ''been beaten up''.
''This will make it easier to reconnect Tauranga travellers to the world.''
Travel Agents' Association of New Zealand president Brent Thomas said, in his view, the sector was hardest hit by Covid.
House of Travel Tauranga owner Shane Kennedy. Photo / Andrew Warner
Since the pandemic, 90 per cent of revenue had been stripped from the industry and it has shrunk by two thirds this year.
He said, while it was good to start getting some dates, there would be a lot of New Zealanders who were disappointed they could not travel until mid-January and would miss out on Christmas and New Year celebrations with family.
''I think the Government could reconsider that decision given how vaccinated Kiwis and Australians are.''
However, he said, agents were looking forward to people being able to travel again.
Te Puia chief executive Tim Cossar said he welcomed the announcement of resuming safe international travel in 2022.
"However, we do not anticipate that this will result in an immediate bounce back to pre-2020 international travel numbers.
Te Puia chief executive Tim Cossar. Photo / Andrew Warner
"The seven-day isolation criteria will put a handbrake on more solid growth but we recognise that it is needed to ensure safe travel can be sustained without large community outbreaks."
Cossar said "so much is changing right now" and it was Te Puia's view that Covid-19 related policies still had a way to go.
"But we remain optimistic and ready for a busy domestic summer with the border around Tāmaki Makaurau due to be released next month."
Travel in 2022 won't be the same as pre-2020, Hipkins warned.
All travellers will require a negative test, proof of vaccination and declaration they haven't been in very high-risk countries. They will also require regular testing after they have arrived.
A phased approach to reconnecting NZ to the world was the safest approach to protect vulnerable communities and the health system, Hipkins said.
Hipkins said he understood the trauma some families were going through with these restrictions but wouldn't comment if any of his family were impacted.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan. Photo / NZME
