New Zealand to re-open its borders.
New Zealand is re-opening its borders to the world, after two years spent closed off by the pandemic.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced last week that international tourists will be permitted to enter the country earlier than previously anticipated in an effort to accelerate the nation’s economic recovery.
“We have now received guidance that it is safe to significantly bring forward the next stage of our border re-opening work: our tourists,” Ardern told reporters at a press conference.
“Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop Covid-19, over two years ago, and its reopening will spur our economic recovery throughout the remainder of the year.”
From May 2 vaccinated tourists from visa-waiver countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, Singapore and others, will be allowed entry.
Vaccinated tourists from Australia will be able to enter from April 13.
The decision to allow foreign visitors to visit again comes after figures show a very successful vaccination uptake.
The vast majority of adults in New Zealand – 95% of those aged 12 and over are now double-vaccinated, and 72% have had a booster shot.
News of the announcement will come as a relief for the country’s tourism and hospitality businesses, many of which have struggled to survive the border closures.
According to Tourism Industry Aotearoa, total tourism expenditure in 2021 fell by 37% – a loss of $15.6bn – from the previous year.
Pre-Covid figures show tourism was New Zealand’s biggest export industry, contributing 20% of total exports and directly accounting for 5.5% of GDP.
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