Australia is set to reopen its borders to tourists from February 21, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
This will end one of the world’s strictest and longest-running pandemic travel restrictions.
“It’s almost two years since we decided to close the borders to Australia,” Morrison said after a meeting of the national security cabinet.
He announced the borders will reopen to all visa holders “on the 21st of February of this year,” adding, “if you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia.”
Australia’s borders were shut in March 2020 in the hope of protecting the island continent against a surging global pandemic.
For most of the time since then, Australians have been barred from leaving and only a handful of visitors have been granted exemptions to enter.
The rules have stranded nationals overseas, split families, hammered the country’s multi-billion-dollar tourist industry, and prompted often bitter debates about Australia’s status as a modern, open and outward-looking nation.
