New Zealand has reopened to tourists for the first time in more than two years after pandemic restrictions were eased.
The popular travel destination is set to welcome people from more than 50 countries including Britain, the United States, Canada and Japan.
Before the spread of Covid, more than 3 million tourists visited each year, accounting for 20 per cent of New Zealand’s foreign income and more than 5 per cent of the overall economy.
But international tourism stopped altogether after the nation imposed some of the world’s toughest border restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020.
The border rules remained in place as the government at first pursued an elimination strategy and then tried to tightly control the spread of the virus.
However, more than 80 per cent of New Zealand’s 5 million population is now vaccinated, which has prompted the gradual easing of restrictions.
New Zealand reopened to tourists from Australia three weeks ago and on Monday to about 60 visa-waiver countries, including much of Europe.
Most tourists from India, China and other non-waiver countries are still not allowed to enter.
Tourists will need to be vaccinated and to test themselves for the virus before and after arriving.
“Today is a day to celebrate, and is a big moment in our reconnection with the world,” said Tourism Minister Stuart Nash.
At Auckland Airport, flights bringing in tourists began landing from early in the morning, coming in direct from places including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.
The border reopening will help boost tourism ahead of New Zealand’s upcoming ski season.
But the real test of how much the tourism industry rebounds will come in December, when the peak summer season begins in the Southern Hemisphere nation.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said more than 90,000 people had booked flights to New Zealand in the seven weeks since the reopening was announced and 21 international flights were scheduled to land on Monday in Auckland.
“Our tourism industry has felt the effects of the global pandemic acutely, and are working hard to prepare,” she said.
