Canberra, Oct 16 Since they were shut in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia on Friday reopened its borders to international travellers from New Zealand, but in a limited capacity.
From Friday onwards, travellers from New Zealand can enter New South Wales (NSW) and the Northern Territory (NT) without having to spend 14 days in quarantine, reports Xinhua news agency.
More than 350 passengers were scheduled to arrive in Sydney on three flights.
It marks the first time that tourists from overseas have been allowed into Australia since Prime Minister PM Scott Morrison closed the country's borders in March to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Glen Hingley, chief executive of Tourism Top End, said that families reuniting after months apart made up the majority of the first travellers but the scheme would provide a major boost for the tourism industry.
"There are half a million Kiwis living in Australia, and we know people reuniting is an important motivator for travel," he told News Corp Australia on Friday.
"We also know New Zealand tourists like to explore, and while they have traditionally favoured Australia's east coast, the Territory offers unique and different experiences that could appeal to many of them."
While travel between the countries has been opened on a strictly one-way basis, Winston Peters, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister, on Friday offered hope that Austral could soon visit New Zealand.
"I think in Australia's case, we are only a few days away to be able to say certain states are on top of (the virus) so to speak," he told Nine Network television.
"Australia is going so well then you had that huge spike in Melbourne and that's very, very sad.
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Peters added.
( With inputs from IANS )
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