More than two years after New Zealand closed its borders to protect itself from Covid-19, today it is back to welcome foreign tourists and students. The end of restrictions is celebrated by the tourism and education sectors, which are essential to the country’s economy.
The atmosphere at Wellington airport was festive, with the first tourists returning to New Zealand to be welcomed. The end of strict restrictions came three months ahead of schedule: a real relief for a couple who have been separated since the start of the pandemic.
‘Incredible! We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,’ says the woman. RFI. Her boyfriend adds: “Two years ago we asked ourselves when we could meet again. We didn’t even know if that would happen anymore.”
Tourism professionals are also celebrating the reopening of borders. New Zealand Cruises Association president Kevin O’Sullivan makes no secret of his feelings. “We last saw a cruise ship here in March 2020. The first one will arrive here on August 12 next week, so we are very happy!” she celebrates.
But the losses punish the industry. “We made a profit between 300 and 400 million” [de dólares neozelandeses] per year. That’s a loss of more than 800 million dollars to the country’s economy,” says Kevin O’Sullivan.
Increase in contamination with Covid-19
Among the tourists there are also foreign students, mostly Asian, who come to study at New Zealand universities. The activity represents approximately NZ$5 billion per year (equivalent to nearly R$16 billion).
Although the reopening of borders has been expected for a long time, the population fears an increase in Covid-19 contamination. An anti-covid vaccination certificate or immunization exemption is still required for entry.
New Zealand has set one of the strictest policies against the spread of Covid-19. In addition to the closure of borders, strict quarantines were imposed each time local infections were recorded.
This allowed the country to have an extremely low death rate compared to other countries: around 1,500 in about two and a half years. However, more than 400 people died from the disease in the country last July – a record since the start of the pandemic.
* With information from RFI reporter Richard Tindiller
source: Noticias
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