Australia and New Zealand Launch Travel Bubble

A long time in the making amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand was launched today, resulting in thousands of travel bookings between the two nations.

The BBC reports that one of the main requirements for travel under the bubble scheme is that passenger previously stayed in their country of departure for at least 14 days. Also, they cannot currently be waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test when embarking. Furthermore, travelers cannot be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for the disease within 14 days. If these requirements are met, passengers do not need to adhere to additional testing or quarantine requirements.

Both countries had previously been closed off to each other's as well as foreign travelers, only allowing returning nationals or travel for essential reasons. Both had required paid hotel quarantines with costs in the thousands of U.S. dollars - another big inhibitor for travelers, those looking to see family and even those who meet essential journey criteria. The tight restrictions are remaining in place for anyone seeking to enter the countries from outside the travel bubble.

Australia and New Zealand are extremely important for each other's tourism industry and economy as a whole. In the fiscal year of 2019, almost 40 percent of tourists and 25 percent of tourism spending in New Zealand were Australian. But Kiwi tourists in Australia also made up 15 percent of visitors. In addition, around 60,000 people move permanently each year between the two countries, highlighting not only the economic advantages of the travel bubble for tourism but also the human element of giving many friends and family the opportunity to reunite.