Win for tourism as bubble proposal green lit

The business collective behind a quarantine-free two-way travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand look forward to the initiative commencing early in the New Year, following approval from the New Zealand Cabinet today.

In November, Australian Chamber Tourism, the Canberra Business Chamber, Canberra Airport, Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Auckland Business Chamber submitted an updated proposal for a quarantine-free bubble, after initial plans were scrapped due to the Victorian outbreak.

“This is a very positive response to the proposal from our collective,” Australian Chamber Tourism Chair John Hart said.

“The Chambers and our partners have been in constant contact with both Governments and corresponding diplomats to open the bubble. The Trans-Tasman route is important for business travel, trade and tourism and will stimulate a great deal of these activities in decline – our proposal spoke to the $70 Million plus a week it will unlock.

“Australians and New Zealanders deserve to be able to travel freely across the Tasman. We have earnt this freedom through our efforts to control the virus and it’s a great way to start 2021 with the strength of the ANZAC tradition.

“While we had hoped for a bubble to commence before Christmas, this is the next best thing.  The proposal suggests an initial business exchange to open people-to-people, business-to-business and Government-to-Government relationships. We are still keen this sort of activity happen very early in the New Year.

“This bubble is just the first step in the recovery of the tourism industry and the Tourism Restart Taskforce set up by ACCI this year continues to work with the Australian Government on better outcomes for the tourism, travel and business events industry.”

Find out what the Tourism Taskforce is up to here.

Read the travel bubble proposal here.