April 2020: Air New Zealand planes on the ground amid the pandemic at Christchurch Airport. Photo: AP
Wellington airport seemed like a party this Monday to welcome tourists, that They set foot in New Zealand. An announcement that comes three months ahead of schedule and two years after the total blockade of its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A real relief for this separated couple between the US and New Zealand. “That’s great! We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” says the woman. The husband continues: “It took two years to ask ourselves when and if we would see each other again. We didn’t even know if it would happen. We started our relationship without knowing if we would see each other again,” she said. told RFI.
The professionals of maritime tourism They also applaud the announcement. Kevin O’Sullivan is the president of the New Zealand Cruise Association and for him this reopening comes just in time.
Starting from midnight on Sunday, all the borders of the country have been reopened. Photo: AFP file
“The last time we saw a cruise ship in New Zealand it was March 2020. But the next comes next week, on August 12th, so it’s very exciting. However, losses they are quite large. The industry is typically worth between $ 300 million and $ 400 million annually. So that’s a loss of about $ 800 million to the New Zealand economy. “
Public concern over Covid-19
Among the visitors there are tourists, but also foreign students, mostly Asian, who will be able to return to universities in New Zealand. A lucrative income for the country, which represents more than three billion euros a year.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern provides information on the covid in the winter of 2021. Photo: AP
Although the reopening of the borders was eagerly awaited, the population still worried due to pollution during the austral winter. In July, more than 400 people died from Covid-19. A record since the start of the pandemic.
a slow return
The final phase of the reopening of the borders started on Sunday at midnight, local time, with the authorization of the maritime border and visa applications all foreign visitors.
In any case, the executive director of Tourism New Zealand, Rene de Monchy, anticipates it business will recover slowly compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“The return of international tourism is expected to take as long as people around the world do gain security to travel“, She said.
“New Zealand tourism is working hard to encourage visits from key markets to drive tourism recovery and support the country’s economy.”
One of the most anticipated returns is that of cruise tourism. Photo: AP
Tourism, including cruise lines, which are estimated to first arrive at Auckland Pier around mid-August, and international students they were great contributors to the New Zealand economy.
Before covid-19, tourism spending generated $ 25.7 million for the treasury in the 12 months prior to March 2020.
In the same period, tourism contributed directly to GDP for 16.4 billion dollars, or 5.5%.
With information from AFP and RFI Wellington correspondent Richard Tindiller
Source: Clarin