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Trans-Tasman bubble gets the nod, but not for cruise ships yet

Australia’s Health Minister Greg Hunt welcomed Monday’s news that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Cabinet agreed in principle to establish a trans-Tasman ‘bubble’ early next year.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

December 14, 2020

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Hunt said increased travel between the two countries would benefit both economies.

Cases negligible

‘We consciously opened up Australia to people coming from New Zealand because their (COVID-19) case numbers were negligible,’ he said. 

‘It is our intention to name a date for the commencement of the trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel in the new year, once remaining details are locked down,’ Ardern said. 

The ban on international travel in Australia is in place until March 17.

Ann Sherry’s Forum

An Australian New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) headed by Carnival Australia adviser and former chairman Ann Sherry has been working for months, investigating what protocols need to be in place for travel between the two countries to resume.

The ANZLF committee includes health and border force officials from both sides of the Tasman and peak tourism bodies.

Air transport

The trans-Tasman bubble will initially apply to air transport.

However, Sherry told Seatrade Cruise News ‘we will be raising all the elements of tourism as part of this discussion.’

Cook Islands bubble

Over the weekend, New Zealand and the Cook Islands announced a similar travel bubble for people to travel between the two countries without quarantine.

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coronavirus

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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