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NEW ZEALAND will reopen its borders to tourists from Australia in April, and international travelers who do not require a visa in May.
Vaccinated Australians will be able to enter the country without isolation from April 13 and fully vaccinated travelers from visa-free countries such as Japan, United States, United Kingdom and South Korea can enter from May 2.
This was said by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, quoted from Kyodo, Thursday (3/17). This decision was advanced several months when the country had passed the peak of infections with the Omicron variant.
Earlier, Ardern said in February that tourists from Japan, Australia and other visa-free countries would not be allowed entry until July.
“Closing our borders was one of the first actions we took to stop COVID-19 two years ago,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“That decision had the good impact we needed. But now that we’re vaccinated high and not predicted to reach our Omicron peak, it’s now safe to open,” she added.
All visitors, she continued that must be fully vaccinated and give a negative COVID-19 test result prior to departure, and will be tested on arrival and five days later.
The full reopening of borders to travelers from around the world is not expected until October under existing plans, but Ardern hinted that this could also be moved forward.
New Zealand’s borders have been closed to most travelers since March 2020 and only fully reopened to citizens and residents returning from anywhere in the world earlier this month. [antaranews/photo special]
