NZ Border Settings (3 February 2022)
Today’s announcement by government with its new border reopening dates is a helpful start for businesses to start to plan with more certainty.
Bouquets… we are thrilled that New Zealand citizens can now return to their homeland quarantine free and self-isolate from the end of February and March 2022.
It’s great that visitors from Australia, UK, USA, Pacific Islands and other visa waived countries can travel to NZ from the June/July 2022 period (or earlier if possible). We hope this date can be shifted to May or the 1st June 2022 so that businesses can start their winter trading from the start of winter instead of mid-winter. We commend government with this decision. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/general-information/visa-waiver-countries?utm_source=newzealand.com&utm_medium=referral . It’s also good to see that skilled workers (and families), working holiday visa holders, international students and temporary visa holders can start to return to NZ.
However… there is a thumping big bat. We don’t think the announcement goes far enough to signal to international markets that New Zealand is open to sell with confidence and this is worrying. The self-isolation requirement is a demand destroyer if it remains in place.
If New Zealand is to have any chance of rebuilding its floundering international tourism sector, the government must remove the self-isolation requirement for visitors as soon as it can. It’s a complete handbrake that will keep NZ disconnected from the world, not reconnected. It will crush any chance of an international tourism recovery.
We urge Cabinet to drop the isolation requirement within the next four weeks before airlines make their final decisions (in March) as to whether they keep NZ on their global network, or not. We must make it easy for airlines and our offshore travel partners to have confidence to sell trips in 2022. Otherwise, the ability to rebuild NZ’s world-class international visitor offering will seriously be put at risk that could have long-term effects in years to come. If New Zealand loses any further connections, it would also be disastrous for hundreds of tourism businesses. We know there is a high level of demand for travel to NZ and this demand, in the current and future pipeline, needs to activated and realised with no barriers.
Can tourism businesses make it to the reopening date? It’s going to be touch and go for many. A number have already indicated they are struggling and might not make it to the starting gate. July might be too late. TECNZ is conducting a survey with members on what survivability rates are for those that have been hanging on by a thread for the past two years. We hope some form of financial support by government will be considered to help keep these businesses alive until visitors can return and we’re keen to work with officials on exploring options.
New Zealand was once one of the world’s Top 10 bucket-list destinations. International tourism businesses want to get back on the list again and know we can, if given the chance. We just need the right operating environment. And…we need airlines to make all this happen.
/Ends
Media contact:
Chief Executive, Lynda Keene, phone: 027 66 44 836
About TECNZ
The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is a trade association that represents the interests of the inbound tourism industry since 1971 (50 years). Its membership includes inbound tour operators (Inbound Members) and attraction, activity, accommodation, transport suppliers, regional tourism organisations and tourism services providers (Allied Members). Pre-COVID TECNZ represented 76 Inbound Tour Operators and 241 tourism business across New Zealand.