The exemption from post-entry quarantine required by infection control has resumed between Australia and New Zealand, and many have traveled to both countries, including those who go to see their families living apart.

Line up at the counter early in the morning at Sydney Airport

In order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, Australia and New Zealand have basically banned foreigners from entering the country since March last year, and require quarantine for 14 days after entering the country if they enter the country with special permission.



The quarantine was also applied to travel between Australia and New Zealand, but was exempted from quarantine on the 19th as the infection situation subsided in both countries.



At the terminal at Sydney Airport in Australia, people heading to New Zealand were lining up at the check-in counter early in the morning.



A 22-year-old woman heading to Wellington, the capital, said with excitement, "I'm looking forward to trekking and winery tours. It's been two years since I traveled abroad."



Also, in the arrival lobby, passengers arriving from New Zealand and welcoming people were seen hugging each other and rejoicing at the reunion.



A woman in her 40s who came to see her parents from Wellington in Sydney said, "I haven't seen him for over a year, so I'm relieved to be able to come and go."



Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, Australia's largest airline, said, "It's great news for the tourism and aviation industries. I hope that traffic will resume with Japan and other countries at the right time."

Welcome from the New Zealand tourism industry

Before the spread of the new coronavirus in New Zealand, 40% of foreign tourists were from Australia, and the tourism industry has welcomed the resumption of traffic.



At a tourist company that operates glacier tours on the South Island of New Zealand, 97% of the tourists were from overseas, but since the entry of foreigners was basically banned in March last year, the number of tourists has decreased significantly. Strict management has continued, such as reducing the number of staff.



Now that reservations are starting to come in from Australia, CEO Rob Jewel said, "For the past year, only domestic customers have been accepted and the business has been in a very difficult situation, so we will resume traffic with Australia. I'm excited. I'm ready to keep the facility clean. "



In addition, the New Zealand Tourism Board plans to promote it by creating a PR video for Australia in time for the upcoming ski season.



Andrew Waddell of the Sydney Office of the New Zealand Tourism Board said, "Accepting tourists from Australia is the first step toward resuming acceptance from Japan, China, the United States, etc." He expressed his hope that the traffic would be resumed.