Today’s announcement by the NSW Government that from 1 November, the removal of all quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated overseas arrivals including tourists is a game changer for NSW and the wider tourism industry.

Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Chief Executive Margy Osmond said that long suffering employers and employees across the NSW tourism, aviation, accommodation, transport and events industry will be delighted by this major news.

“This is an absolute game-changer for NSW. Quite simply, from November 1, the NSW visitor economy is once again back open for business,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said today.

“Our tourism industry will be smiling from ear to ear today at the prospect of international business and leisure tourists returning to Sydney and regional NSW in time for the all-important peak summer season.

“These visitors will be able to safely enjoy our many natural, regional and city attractions, warm hospitality and will of course provide widespread economic flow on effects that this visitation entails.

“Fully vaccinated Australians will also be able to start planning long sought-after Christmas and summer get-togethers with friends and family both here and in places like the United Kingdom, the United States and a growing list of key countries deemed safe, armed with the certainty that there will be no restrictions when leaving or entering our shores.

“TTF and our membership congratulates NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and the NSW Government for making this sensible and considered decision for the benefit of all across the state.

“Our industry has been pulled from pillar to post over the last eighteen months, enduring relentless lockdowns, severe restrictions and ongoing uncertainty, but today’s major development – the certainty of a 1 November date – is the best early Christmas present we could have wished for and will truly help us to start to get back on our feet.

“Hopefully these double vaccinated international visitors and returning Australians will in time be also able to plan wider interstate domestic travel for get-togethers with friends and family or that trip of a lifetime in other Australian states as these states realise the benefits of safely reopening to the rest of Australia and the world.”

Ends
Contact: TTF Manager Policy, Media & Government Relations Lindsay Hermes lhermes@ttf.org.au 0418 948 447