One of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations, Bali, reopened its borders to international tourists last week.
The Philippines announced it would be open to international travellers from February 10. New Zealand will offer quarantine-free travel to Aussies from July. Slowly but surely, the world is welcoming us back.
Last week, the New Zealand government announced its borders would be reopened in stages from the end of February. New Zealand citizens in Australia and other eligible travellers, such as Australian citizens or permanent residents whose primary place of residence is New Zealand, will be the first to be welcomed back into the country at 11:59pm on February 27 – and they will only have to self-isolate at home for 10 days, rather than go through the country’s expensive MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) program. But Australian tourists might not be allowed to visit until July.
The Philippines, another popular destination for Australians, revealed it would allow fully vaccinated travellers, including Australians, to visit from February 10. Also included in the list of 150 countries will be visitors from the UK, Japan, Canada, Italy and the United States.
Paul Whiteway, Skyscanner’s Regional Director for Asia Pacific, said: “This is another step in the direction towards travel fully reopening for Australians and we know that this destination news will unlock a wave of pent-up demand as travellers react to the latest changes. As further restrictions ease and airlines build capacity and schedules to allow the return of travel at scale, we’d expect to see travellers planning in their next trips for 2022.”
Bali was the number-one booked overseas destination for Australian travellers on Skyscanner in 2019 and remains in the top-five most-searched international destinations for 2022. Currently, to have a holiday in Bali, you’ll have to start with a five night “warm-up” vacation, meaning you need to spend five nights in a quarantine-bubble luxury resort before you’re free to move around the rest of Bali as you please.
However, for those who have been missing the all-inclusive tropical lifestyle, this won’t be too much of a struggle.
“For any Aussie travellers planning a trip to Bali, it’s important to check the local restrictions as self-isolation is still a requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers,” said Mr Whiteway.
The good news about Bali was yet another positive move towards pre-pandemic levels of bookings and travel confidence, a gradual yet significant rise that travel agents such as Lana Kanchik of TravelManagers are enjoying.
“I am absolutely swamped with bookings as well as new inquiries and they are all of course international,” said Ms Kanchik. “People really don’t trust the borders in different states in our country and are not planning to waste their time waiting for their decision to reopen. Look what happened in WA. They’ve promised to reopen on the February 6 only for us to be told that it won’t happen in the near future. No one wants the stress of dealing with such a situation.”
Where Aussies are going
Ms Kanchik said her bookings are coming in for all over the world.
“So far, my bookings are of course Fiji, especially with their ongoing ‘Bula Bubble’ promotion, USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia – as Thailand and Vietnam are open for anyone, with Bali in the very near future.
“Most of my clients are traveling for recreational activities and only a few to see their family and friends. Skiing in Canada is very much in at the moment, and I am already working on the bookings for Feb 2023,” she said.
Haydn Long, Public Affairs Manager at Flight Centre, said he’s seeing plenty of people mixing reunions with a return to travel. “Places like Delhi are popular with VFR – visiting friends and relatives – customers,” he said. “They have really and understandably led the charge after restrictions have been lifted, but more and more holidaymakers are also starting to lock in plans.
“London has consistently been number one throughout the pandemic – people are clearly very keen to take off there as soon as they are able to.”
Mr Long shared a list of Australians’ 10 most-booked international destinations, with London coming in at number one and Delhi, Nadi, Los Angeles and Auckland following close behind. Rounding out the top 10 are Denpasar, Bangkok, Honolulu, Manchester and Singapore.
What to know
With ever-changing policies and complicated restrictions, it’s important to do your own comprehensive research or book through a travel expert, but here are the basics you need to know before jetting off to one of the top destinations right now.
Bali
You must stay five nights in a government-approved hotel if fully vaccinated – and seven nights if unvaccinated – and you must show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of boarding your flight. You will require further tests to leave quarantine, and you will also need insurance with coverage for COVID-19 costs up to US$100,000.
Fiji
To enter Fiji, you will need evidence of a negative PCR test within 48 hours of your departure, and you must book at least the first three nights’ accommodation at a Care Fiji Commitment-certified property, in a package that includes an airport transfer. Forty-eight hours after arrival, you will need to take a rapid antigen test.
Thailand
Thailand is currently running its “Test & Go” program, where you can stay in a government approved hotel on day one and five of your trip, and after returning a negative test on both those days you are free to explore the rest of the country. For entry via Thailand’s Test & Go, you’ll need to complete a Test & Go application, proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, a COVID-19 insurance policy with coverage of at least US$50,000 – and you will need to prepay for the two nights of accommodation.
United States
To get into the United States, you must be fully vaccinated and show a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure.
United Kingdom
To enter the UK, you must be fully vaccinated four days prior to arrival and complete a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before leaving.
New Zealand
New Zealand is currently not open to quarantine-free travel for Australians, although Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that Australians will be able to head over quarantine-free by July.
