Australia has reopened its borders today (21 February) to all travelers who are fully vaccinated.
According to Reuters, more than 50 international flights will be reaching Australia with about 27 landing in Sydney.
The country’s tourism and hospitality industry has been stricken ever since their borders were shut in March 2020, with tourism being worth more than $60 billion.
Their tourism industry also employs about 5% of Australia’s workforce.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that “it is a very exciting day, one that I have been looking forward to for a long time, for the day that I first shut that border right at the start of the pandemic.”
Australia has steered away from their tough COvid restrictions and lockdowns since late last year and started living with the virus after their population achieved higher vaccination levels.
Their hospital admissions have also been falling steadily over the last few weeks as Australia’s Omicron outbreak appears to have passed the peak levels.