The Government today announced that New Zealanders in Australia will be able to return home by the end of this month under a five-stage reopening plan due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first stages of the plan would see returning vaccinated Kiwis able to go into self-isolation and taking a test on arrival, rather than going into managed isolation and quarantine facilities (MIQ).
MIQ will be removed for most travellers, replaced by self-isolation and testing. But the managed isolation system will stay in place for unvaccinated people.
NZ Airports said today though today's announcement was an important first step, the continuing requirement of self-isolation would prevent any meaningful recovery in demand for travel to New Zealand.
Chief executive Kevin Ward said there would be many Kiwi families delighted to be able to return home and the aviation industry was looking forward to welcoming them, but self-isolation meant New Zealand would remain off the map for international travellers and many airlines.
"People do not want to fly to New Zealand if they have to spend their first week sitting in a hotel.”
He agreed with NZ Airport's call for the Government to rethink the self-isolation requirement and drop it "as soon as possible".
"The reality for the resort is that, while seven days’ isolation is required for all travellers into New Zealand, Queenstown will remain closed for business to any international tourism, including the important Australian market," Mr Sowry said today.
"Trans-Tasman flights will only return at ZQN when the self-isolation requirement is lifted and visitors are not required to isolate in a hotel room for seven days before starting their adventure.
"The Prime Minister indicated that we are entering a new phase of our Covid response. We are strongly encouraging the Government to consider the removal of the self-isolation requirement as soon as possible to provide certainty and confidence for fully vaccinated Aussies to book a winter ski season holiday in the Southern Lakes."
Analysis by Auckland Airport has shown that a continued isolation requirement would have a significant negative impact on New Zealand’s travel market, with demand from the Australia visitor market (excluding New Zealanders visiting friends and family) estimated at just 7% of 2019 levels if the self-isolation requirement remains in place.
Kevin Ward called on the Government to keep reconsidering whether self-isolation is still appropriate before each stage of reopening commences, particularly before the reopening trans-Tasman travel.
“A growing number of countries are allowing quarantine-free travel for qualified, fully vaccinated foreign travellers. Expecting self-isolation to still be required for travel to New Zealand later this year when the trans-Tasman market reopens makes no sense."
Mr Ward acknowledged and thanked all the frontline airport workers who have played a vital role in the MIQ system.
“Their work has contributed to New Zealand’s Covid success and they should be proud.”
The five stages
• 11.59pm on February 27: Self-isolation opens for New Zealanders and eligible travellers coming from Australia
• 11.59pm on March 13: Open to New Zealanders and eligible travellers from the rest of the world; skilled workers earning at least 1.5x median wage; working holiday visas
• 11.59pm on April 12: Offshore temporary visa holders who still meet visa requirements; 5000 international students; consideration of further class exemptions for critical workforces that do not meet the 1.5x median wage test
• By July: Anyone from Australia; visa-waiver travel; a new Accredited Employer Work Visa opens and skilled worker exemption is phased out
• In October: Border reopens to the rest of the world, all visa categories fully reopen
- ODT Online
