Australia Likely Won't Allow International Travel Until 2021 (Both Incoming & Outgoing)

The hopes of Australians traveling to oversees or visitors to the country in 2020 were crushed today by Tourism Minister Mr. Birmingham.

There have or at least were talks about a trans-Tasman travel bubble that perhaps could have included some if not all the Pacific island nations, but the minister advises people not to get their hopes up.

Senator Birmingham told the National Press Club it is "more likely" Australians will be banned from overseas travel until 2021, unless under special exemptions for limited business travel and on compassionate grounds.

"But I do, sadly, think that in terms of open tourist-related travel in or out of Australia, that remains quite some distance off, just because of the practicalities of the volumes that are involved and the need for us to first and foremost keep putting health first."

Asked if he was really talking about a travel ban until 2021, Senator Birmingham replied: "Honestly, I think that is more likely the case."

Australia requires all of its returning citizens/permanent residents to quarantine at government-provided accommodation for 14-days before let to roam free and return to their homes. Travel within Australia's states has not fully reopened yet. There are internal travel restrictions in place.

It appears that Australia may allow some in such as students who are required to go through the 14-day extended quarantine like others.

As I have written previously, it is challenging to see or plan any international long-haul travel for 2020 (perhaps not even for the first half of 2021) beyond regional trips within short notice, due to all these restrictions in place. I would not be buying any airline tickets presently.

And then there is always the question of whether we will eventually have the Covid-19 vaccine (likely - but not guaranteed) and when?