5:11 pm - Sunday March 27, 9272

New Zealand re-opens its borders to world tourism

After being desolated since 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19, New Zealand has reopened its border to the world. As part of the government’s gradual reopening strategy, the border reopened to vaccinated and Covid-negative travellers from roughly 60 visa-waiver nations on Monday morning.

By: Ibnul Hasan

As of March 2020, New Zealand’s borders were closed, requiring even returning residents to endure weeks in quarantine upon arrival. In addition to measures such as rapid testing, monitoring, and lockdown, the government has credited the low COVID mortality toll in the country, which stands at 713 for a population of five million, to its isolation strategy. When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the re-opening of the nation’s border earlier this year, she stated the country was “prepared to welcome the world back.”

As a result, New Zealand’s economy is heavily dependent on international travel, and tourist operators have voiced enthusiasm about the country’s resurgence. The reopening of the border will aid in the increase of tourism in New Zealand ahead of the start of the ski season in a few months’ time, officials said.

Tourist planes began arriving at Auckland Airport early in the morning, flying direct from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. At the airport, welcoming the arriving tourists and citizens, he said, “It’s part of the reconnecting strategy.” It’s also part of saying to the world, “Hey, we are open for business. Come in.” New Zealand tourism has done an awesome job of creating a real aspiration for New Zealand around the world. It’s now time for them to come and see what Tourism New Zealand has been marketing for the last two years. ” He also added, “People haven’t seen each other for a long, long time—family and friends. It almost brings tears to my eyes.”

But still, tourists from non-waiver countries such as India and China are not allowed to enter the country. If a pre-departure COVID test is negative, overseas tourists who have been vaccinated can enter New Zealand. They must self-test for coronavirus upon arrival, but there is no need to quarantine or self-isolate until the result is positive. Unless the government determines it is safe to do so sooner, all other overseas tourists will be able to enter New Zealand starting in October this year.

The eligible travellers to cross the border into New Zealand are:

  • A New Zealand citizen,
  • A New Zealand permanent resident or a holder of a resident visa
  • You are the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident, and you hold a visa based on this relationship.
  • An Australian citizen or permanent resident visa holder is
  • A working holiday visa holder
  • a work visa holder and you still meet the visa conditions.
  • a student visa holder and you still meet the visa conditions.
  • A visitor visa holder
  • A visa waiver traveller who holds an NZeTA
  • Someone who had a compelling reason to travel and was granted a visa as an exception to border restrictions.
  • A transit visa holder

Visa waiver travellers and work, working holiday, visitor, and student visa holders can leave and return to New Zealand if their visa conditions allow for this.


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