Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[MEL_Traveller]

I just wonder in similar cases how many people are dependent on finances from the Government and do they understand the billions of dollars pumped into the Australian economy from tourism and university students from overseas. That the vegetables and fruit they eat are dependent on overseas backpackers working the crops. That the hotels they may stay in, even local, likely need backpackers for various duties. We are in a vacuum right now and something has to give.

If I have read this right, China represents - by far - the biggest single source of tourism revenue and tourism spend. In the year ending September 2020 the spend from Chinese tourists was $5 billion, some 60% lower than the previous year: International Visitor Spend - Corporate - Tourism Australia

Post pandemic i don't think the Chinese market will return. Maybe someone has weighed the cost-benefits in deciding to keep the borders closed?

 

[Pushka]

If I have read this right, China represents - by far - the biggest single source of tourism revenue and tourism spend. In the year ending September 2020 the spend from Chinese tourists was $5 billion, some 60% lower than the previous year: International Visitor Spend - Corporate - Tourism Australia

Post pandemic i don't think the Chinese market will return. Maybe someone has weighed the cost-benefits in deciding to keep the borders closed?

Who knows. People have short memories. People want to travel. Pent up demand and money not spent in last 18 months.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Who knows. People have short memories. People want to travel. Pent up demand and money not spent in last 18 months.

I don't think that market would want, or even be allowed, to travel here? Taking out $10 billion from the existing tourism base represents a cut of about a quarter.

 

[Pushka]

I don't think that market would want, or even be allowed, to travel here? Taking out $10 billion from the existing tourism base represents a cut of about a quarter.

I understand SA is accepting Uni students, likely from China, in the next few weeks. Already approved by the Feds and a specific quarantine place in Parafield is being prepared. Money talks.

Much more talk also moving to Covid normal as opposed to zero.

Returning to normal could be a drawn-out process

When Covid-19 first arrived on Australia’s shores forcing residents into their first ever lockdown, many thought restrictions would last a few weeks.

www.news.com.au

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I understand SA is accepting Uni students, likely from China, in the next few weeks. Already approved by the Feds and a specific quarantine place in Parafield is being prepared. Money talks.

For sure. But I wonder if international students are included in the visitor/tourist numbers? And I wonder, too, how many of the students will be those finishing courses currently underway rather than 'new business'?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

For sure. But I wonder if international students are included in the visitor/tourist numbers

I would suspect not as Student Visa have their own category.

 

[Pushka]

For sure. But I wonder if international students are included in the visitor/tourist numbers? And I wonder, too, how many of the students will be those finishing courses currently underway rather than 'new business'?

SA has indicated that their numbers will be additional to returning Aussies cap in the usual hotel quarantine.

 

[mviy]

SA has indicated that their numbers will be additional to returning Aussies cap in the usual hotel quarantine.

Still for those of us looking to travel to visit family overseas it seems like priorities are messed up. Australians visiting Australians overseas should be higher priority than bringing in international students.

 

[Lynda2475]

Tourist numbers are separate from arrivals numbers. Arriving as a student or business traveller (different visas to tourist or visa waiver) doesn't preclude them for being counted in tourist/visitor numbers for attractions/hotels/tours as they do also have tourism spend.

 

[Pushka]

Still for those of us looking to travel to visit family overseas it seems like priorities are messed up. Australians visiting Australians overseas should be higher priority than bringing in international students.

Hey, no argument from me. I'm going to be missing our sons wedding in UK next month.

On the other hand, it shows some spirit to get things happening again and f it can be done safely, it opens the door a bit. Well, I have to think that as a coping strategy.

 

[harvyk]

Surveys like this are not going to convince the government to open our international borders in a hurry.

One-third of voters back cuts in overseas arrivals to ease quarantine pressure

Only 7 per cent of voters back the idea of expanding the existing hotel quarantine system to allow more people to enter the country.

www.smh.com.au

Things like this remind me how there are three types of lies. That been lie, damn lies and statistics...

The framing of any discussions prior to being asked (which has not been published), the questions themselves, and then how the data is presented make me think that a predetermined result was after.

I strongly suspect that if the questions where around "how much do you like travelling to Bali" you could re-write the entire article as a pro-open the borders article even with the same sample set of people.

 

[Pushka]

And reported in The Australian
"Australia’s international border has been shut for more than a year due to Covid.

Now, the Prime Minister has revealed new steps to reopening it but has stopped short of saying what vaccination rates would be needed to make it happen.

The Weekend Australian reports that foreign students could be used to trial a new “green light, red light” system on the international border, allowing in vaccinated arrivals who pose no health risk."

 

[Lynda2475]

I think Gladys is the only member of national cabinet to publicly state a vaccination target for reopening international borders.

 

[dajop]

The Weekend Australian reports that foreign students could be used to trial a new “green light, red light” system on the international border, allowing in vaccinated arrivals who pose no health risk."

They should just commandeer a few resorts and run a study, seeking volunteers, with guests 50/50 split between vaccinated returning travellers and non travellers (some vaccinated and others not), two weeks in resort mixing and mingling freely, and then alas two weeks in hotel quarantine .

There must be some way of doing a study to understand the risks of allowing fully vaccinated in without HQ.

 

[Flashback]

And reported in The Australian
"Australia’s international border has been shut for more than a year due to Covid.

Now, the Prime Minister has revealed new steps to reopening it but has stopped short of saying what vaccination rates would be needed to make it happen.

The Weekend Australian reports that foreign students could be used to trial a new “green light, red light” system on the international border, allowing in vaccinated arrivals who pose no health risk."

Isn't it convenient that any trial appears to be related only to individuals who will be bringing $$$$ into the country? Why not a trial of those who actually need to get home who haven't seen family in years due to previous scheduled trips that were cancelled due to border closures, movement restrictions, cancelled flights etc.?

 

[SydneySwan]

Which state is going to be the first to introduce a special AFF cap that sits outside the regular HQ cap?

 

[Must...Fly!]

The Weekend Australian reports that foreign students could be used to trial a new “green light, red light” system on the international border, allowing in vaccinated arrivals who pose no health risk."

Poorly written I know but if they pose no health risk then why aren't they allowed in now.

 

[Pushka]

Poorly written I know but if they pose no health risk then why aren't they allowed in now.

Well. Because. That’s why. Expecting logic or something?

 

[JB expat]

3 hours ago I had my 2nd AZ (group 1B). I wanted Pfizer but wasn’t available to me when I had my first and I had zero reaction to AZ so took my second. I now will cross all my fingers and toes that something changes for the fully vaccinated so that I can see my fully vaccinated family in the USA.

 

[louie-m]

They should just commandeer a few resorts and run a study, seeking volunteers, with guests 50/50 split between vaccinated returning travellers and non travellers (some vaccinated and others not), two weeks in resort mixing and mingling freely, and then alas two weeks in hotel quarantine .

There must be some way of doing a study to understand the risks of allowing fully vaccinated in without HQ.

For most Australians wanting to visit family abroad, it doesn't have to be hotel quarantine or no quarantine - we have homes here (well, except me, but I'm sure I could sort something out). Why not start with the baby steps of quarantining at home?