Australia is still on course for a Christmas opening of national borders, according to Tourism Minister Dan Tehan.
For that to happen, the vaccination rate needs to reach 80%.There is still some way to go with the current fully vaccinated rate about half of that.
“I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year. It’s another reason why everyone should get vaccinated,” he said.
“We have to stick to the national plan that will see our international border open up – at this rate by Christmas at the latest.”
“People will be able to freely travel outside of Australia, with no restrictions or no limitation. Obviously, it will be dependent on the requirements that are put in place of the countries that they are travelling to,” Tehan added.
The government is currently speaking with several countries to set up safe travel corridors .
In addition it is testing a home quarantine system for returning travellers, which will allow many more stranded Aussies to come home.
The number of incoming air travellers has been severely capped for many months due to its hotel quarantine system.
It has also started testing of a QR code vaccination passport system.
It is being piloted on diplomatic staff international travel.
“What we’ve seen so far and all the reports back, is that the QR code system seems to be interoperable with most of the countries that we’ve been dealing with,” Tehan said.
