Queenstown officials are welcoming a lifting of travel restrictions for Australians today, although they do not expect an immediate influx of visitors.
Last month, the Government announced Australians would be able to visit New Zealand from today without undergoing isolation on arrival.
Vaccinated travellers from visa-waiver countries such as the large tourist markets of the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Germany, Korea and Singapore, and others with valid visitor visas, will enjoy similar liberties from May 2.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said the district’s businesses were "very pleased" about the restrictions being lifted, although no immediate surge in transtasman visitors was anticipated.
"We’re not fizzing at the bung about a massive influx right away, although the lifting of restrictions is extremely welcome.
"Ski season during the coming winter will be more important for us, particularly once the restrictions have been lifted for other visa-waiver countries, and direct flights [to Queenstown] have resumed."
He hoped official submissions made by local stakeholders, including the Queenstown Lakes District Council, would encourage Air New Zealand to resume direct flights earlier than their announced June 24 date.
Qantas is expected to resume direct flights from Sydney to Queenstown on May 23.
Air New Zealand has added another 96 transtasman flights into Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch until June, an increase of about 20,000 seats.
It has 11 full flights arriving from Australia today.
"I can see Australian visitors being reluctant to fly into Christchurch or Auckland, then pick up a further domestic flight into Queenstown," Mr Boult said.
"We’re expecting some additional business but, on the flipside, there may be some New Zealanders who decide to pop to Australia for their holidays."
Destination Queenstown marketing and communications director Sarah O’Donnell described the change as "hugely significant" for the town.
"We’re very excited to welcome our Aussie friends back to Queenstown after a tough couple of years for everyone.
"Although we may not see many visitors in the early stages of reopening, once we get direct flights resuming, we’re expecting to see those numbers increase for the school holidays and our winter ski season."
Under the new regulations, visitors will not need to isolate on arrival.
However, they will be required to take a pre-departure test, and two further rapid antigen tests on day 0/1 and 5/6 of their visit.
