Australia will remain closed to international tourists until 2022

Indians who were looking forward to traveling to Australia this year-end will have to change their plans.

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has now confirmed that the country will not reopen for international tourists until next year. The focus currently is on returning skilled migrants, and students.

According to the Australian Prime Minister, the country should reach its vaccination benchmark on Tuesday. The country would then begin to reopen. He has already outlined plans that will allow vaccinated citizens, and permanent residents to fly abroad from November onwards. This would be the first time citizens will be allowed to fly abroad since March last year.

The Prime Minister has said that after Australians, the government would give priority to skilled migrants, and international students who are looking forward to entering the country. International tourists would only come in after that.

Immigration to Australia is at its lowest right now since World War II, all because of the pandemic, and the lockdowns and restrictions globally. Universities in Australia heavily rely on foreign students, and the pandemic has severely affected them. The Prime Minister said, “The next priorities are skilled migrants that are very important for the country and who are double vaccinated, as well as students who are coming and returning to Australia for their studies.”