Tourism Australia Says Welcome Back To Canadians
Not surprisingly, Tourism Australia is looking forward to welcoming Canadian visitors following the announcement that the country’s borders are reopening for quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated travellers beginning Feb. 21, 2022.
This week’s announcement is part of Australia’s planned re-opening of international travel and builds on quarantine-free travel arrangements with Singapore, which came into effect on Nov. 21, 2021 and for visitors from Japan and South Korea along with Working Holiday Makers from Dec. 15, 2021.
Tourism Australia’s managing director, Phillipa Harrison said that: “The announcement today enabling fully vaccinated travellers from Canada to Australia quarantine-free from 21 February is a significant step in rebuilding international visitation from Australia’s international tourism markets across the globe.”
Harrison continued: “Australia has long been a popular outbound destination for Canadian travellers, with 190,000 visitors travelling to our country in 2019 pre-COVID, and we are really excited that we will have the opportunity to welcome back visitors from Canada, one of our key international markets, as travel resumes.”
She pointed out that: “Throughout the pandemic Tourism Australia has maintained an active presence to keep Australia top of mind in the market. Now, with the reopening of travel from Canada to Australia, Tourism Australia will be working with its trade and distribution partners on dedicated marketing campaigns to urge travellers to come and enjoy all the incredible tourism experiences that await them in Australia.”
The Australian Government has announced Australia will reopen to all fully vaccinated visa holders, tourists, business travellers, and other visitors from Feb. 21, 2022. 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.
Tourism Australia Acting General Manager of North America, Chris Allison, said he hoped Canadians would make the most of the new quarantine-free travel arrangements and take the opportunity to plan an epic Aussie adventure.
Allison observed: “There is no doubt the last two years have been incredibly challenging, and many people had to put off taking holidays as a result. However, with travel back on the cards, now is the time to think big.”
He continued: “Australia is one of the top aspirational travel destinations for Canadians, who spent almost $900 million on their travels here in 2019 and over 50% repeat visitation, of which 46% have frequented more than twice.”
Allison also pointed out that: “Australia’s relative isolation from the rest of the world, coupled with its sparsely populated land and natural wonders, have never been more precious and desirable, and now with two-way quarantine-free
travel, Canadians will jump on the opportunity to fall in love with Australia all over again now.”
Said Allison: “Throughout the pandemic, Tourism Australia has maintained an active presence to keep Australia top of mind in the market. Now, with the reopening of travel from Canada, Tourism Australia will be working with its trade and distribution partners on dedicated marketing campaigns urging Canadian travellers to visit one of the most unique destinations on the planet with its diversity of people, places and experiences.”
In the coming weeks, Tourism Australia will be kicking off a new tourism campaign to welcome Canadian citizens back to Australia.
As part of this campaign, Tourism Australia will be working with a range of key distribution and airline partners to drive booking and drive recovery for Australia’s hard-hit tourism economy by providing tactical offers aimed at stimulating travel to Australia from Canada.
