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The popular Indonesian holiday island of Bali welcomed its first direct international passenger flight in two years when a Singapore Airlines plane landed at the Ngurah Rai International Airport on 16 February 2022.

The flight carried 109 international travellers and 47 Indonesians, reported AFP citing the island‘s governor Wayan Koster.

“I hope that in early March, there will be no more quarantine obligation for tourists as long as they comply with health protocol requirements and show negative test results on departure and arrival,” the governor said at a press conference.

Bali begins welcoming foreign tourists

More flights expected by March

Foreign travellers with whom AFP spoke to were upbeat following their arrival at Bali. Expressing hope for tourism, they said that they were waiting for this opportunity to visit the holiday destination famous for its beaches, temples and forests.

According to the governor, Australia’s Jetstar Airways could be among others which would resume flights to Bali by March.

Meanwhile, Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association chair Rai Wijaya expressed hope that there is little reason to worry as long as health protocols are being strictly adhered to.

“We are aware of the increasing and fluctuating Omicron variant cases, but as long as we are strictly implementing health protocols, we should not be worried,” Wijaya said.

Even though Bali has started reopening to foreign tourists, visitors are required to quarantine at one of the 27 designated hotels on the island for a period of three to seven days.

A long-awaited reopening

On 31 January 2022, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan informed the press of the Indonesian government’s decision to open Bali to all international travellers starting 4 February.

The decision came three months after Indonesia allowed nationals from select countries to enter Bali and the Riau Islands.

At around the time, tourism minister Sandiaga Uno reportedly said that there have been no direct flights since the limited reopening in October 2021.

On 3 February, a Garuda Indonesia flight from Japan’s Narita International Airport landed in Bali with just 12 people on board, six of whom were Indonesians and the rest Japanese. According to Nikkei Asia, the head of the Bali Tourism Board, Nyoman Gede Gunadika, said that the Japanese nationals arrived on business visas since Indonesia had neither restarted its visa on arrival process nor had a tourism visa scheme.

But rising Omicron-variant cases led the Indonesian government to impose new restrictions and temporarily ban foreign visitors through Jakarta airport four days later.

(Main and Featured images: Sebastian Pena Lambarri/@sebaspenalambarri/Unsplash)

The post Foreign Tourists Return to Bali in First International Flight appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the opening of the country to all vaccinated visa holders starting 21 February.

In a media briefing on 7 February, Morrison said that all double vaccinated visa holders will now be able to enter Australia.

“It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia,” Morrison told reporters. “Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on the 21st of February of this year.”

What did Prime Minister Scott Morrison say?

Emphasis on double vaccinated travellers

“The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia. That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it,” Morrison underlined.

“If you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” he said.

The Prime Minister informed the media that the National Cabinet took the decision based on the declining cases of COVID-19 and ICU admissions.

“We have been progressively opening our borders since November of last year,” he underlined.

According to 9News, the Prime Minister said that the planned programmes between Australia and countries such as New Zealand and Singapore have “proceeded very successfully”.

A comment on Novak Djokovic’s case

While stressing on the double vaccinated clause, Morrison also commented on the deportation of Novak Djokovic following the ‘exemption’ controversy granted to the unvaccinated tennis star ahead of the Australian Open.

The Prime Minister said that Djokovic’s case “should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that is the requirement to enter into Australia”.

Hopes up for tourism industry

Australia shut its borders to the outside world in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic started spreading across the world.

The country gradually started opening its doors in recent months, allowing only citizens, residents, international students, backpackers, some seasonal workers and skilled migrants to enter.

Tourism in Australia, one of the major revenue earners for the country, has suffered greatly due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The restrictions had to be extended repeatedly as new and potentially more transmittable variants emerged, including the recent Omicron surge.

Earlier in January, Morrison expressed hope that Australia would be able to reopen completely before Easter.

According to 9News, around 300,000 people have visited Australia since November when restrictions began to be relaxed in a staggered manner. As Australia reopens borders, that number is expected to go up.

Related: 9 Brand-New Museums Opening Around The World In 2022

(Main and Featured images: Photoholgic/@photoholgic/Unsplash)

The post Australia To Reopen Borders To Double Vaccinated Visa Holders Starting 21 February appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

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The post How prominent Hong Kong hotelier Dr Aron Harilela is navigating the pandemic appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

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The post James Liang, chairman and co-founder of Trip.com Group, on the near-future of travel appeared first on The Peak Magazine.