SYDNEY, March 14, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Australia is “working with Singapore” to
create a travel bubble between the two nations as early as July, officials
said Sunday, in an effort to restart tourism and travel put on hold by Covid-
19.
Early in the pandemic Australia effectively closed its international
border to slow the spread of the coronavirus, with non-citizens banned from
visiting except in special circumstances.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Australia was “working with
Singapore at the moment potentially for a bubble (beginning) in July”.
“As the vaccine rolls out, not only in Australia but in other countries,
we will reopen more bubbles,” he told public broadcaster ABC.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the deal would allow Singaporeans and
Australians who had been vaccinated to travel between the countries without
quarantining.
The newspaper said Canberra is also hoping that people from third
countries — such as international students, business travellers and
returning citizens — could complete two weeks’ quarantine in Singapore
before flying to Australia.
Singapore has already opened its border to a handful of countries that
have controlled the virus, including Australia, and officials have said the
city-state would like to establish reciprocal travel corridors.
“If only others start to do it, then we’ll have a bubble, you have
reciprocity, you can start to travel. And I hope some time this year we can
do that,” transport minister Ong Ye Kung told local radio Friday.
Australia’s 14-day hotel quarantine requirement for arrivals has left tens
of thousands of Australians stranded overseas, with caps on returnees
introduced as the limited system has been unable to cope with large numbers.
International tourism — worth about Aus$45 billion (US$35 billion) a year
to the country’s economy before the pandemic hit — has evaporated.
Australia already has a one-way “travel bubble” with New Zealand, allowing
Kiwis to visit without quarantining, though the scheme has been suspended a
number of times in response to virus outbreaks.