New Zealand welcomes back tourists as coronavirus pandemic rules eased

WELLINGTON: New Zealand welcomed vacationers from the US, Canada, Britain, Japan and greater than 50 different nations for the primary time in additional than two years Monday after dropping most of its remaining pandemic border restrictions.
The nation has lengthy been famend for its breathtaking surroundings and journey tourism choices equivalent to bungy leaping and snowboarding. Earlier than the unfold of COVID-19, greater than 3 million vacationers visited every year, accounting for 20 % of New Zealand’s overseas earnings and greater than 5 % of the general economic system.
However worldwide tourism stopped altogether in early 2020 after New Zealand imposed among the world’s hardest border restrictions.
The border guidelines remained in place as the federal government at first pursued an elimination technique after which tried to tightly management the unfold of the virus. The unfold of omicron and vaccinations of greater than 80 % of New Zealand’s 5 million inhabitants prompted the gradual easing of restrictions.
New Zealand reopened to vacationers from Australia three weeks in the past and on Monday to about 60 visa-waiver nations, together with a lot of Europe. Most vacationers from India, China and different non-waiver nations are nonetheless not allowed to enter.
Vacationers will must be vaccinated and to check themselves for the virus after arriving.
“In the present day is a day to have fun, and is a giant second in our reconnection with the world,” stated Tourism Minister Stuart Nash.
At Auckland Airport, flights bringing in vacationers started touchdown from early within the morning, coming in direct from locations together with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.
The border reopening will assist enhance tourism forward of New Zealand’s upcoming ski season. However the actual take a look at of how a lot the tourism business rebounds will are available in December, when the height summer season season begins within the Southern Hemisphere nation.