British tourists will be allowed to enter Australia again after almost two years of border restrictions.
Australia has not allowed tourists from the UK in since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Entry rules were last relaxed in November, but only to prioritise skilled migrants and international tourists.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that tourists who can get visas to enter Australia will be allowed to enter the country from Monday February 21, but they must be fully vaccinated.
Mr Morrisons references the recent controversy about Novak Djokovic being deported after entering Australia without being fully vaccinated, to reinforce the message that Australia will only welcome tourists who have had their jabs.
“Events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message, I think, to everyone around the world that that is the requirement to enter into Australia,” Mr Morrison said.
The Australian Government adds: "Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.
There are quarantine requirements in Australian states. Western Australia, for example, currently requires international arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. But in other states they are more relaxed. New South Wales, where Sydney is, requires fully vaccinated international arrivals to quarantine only until they get a negative rapid coronavirus test result. Victoria, Melbourne's state, has the same rules as New South Wales.
The Australian Tourism Export Council, the peak industry body representing the nation’s tourism export sector, said tourism operations were looking forward to rebuilding their markets.
Managing director Peter Shelley said: “Australian tourism businesses will rejoice in the news that our borders will reopen to all international travellers.
“It’s been a long, hard and desperate road for every tourism business across the country and we have lost many along the way, but this news will give those who have survived a clear target to work towards and a start point for the rebuilding of the industry.”
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