Jacinda Ardern mentions the date when tourists can return

Monday, March 14, 2022

The Government declared that New Zealand would scrap the self-isolation requirements for New Zealanders coming back from foreign countries who are fully vaccinated, fortnight ago.

The Government’s reopening plan, at first explained that tourists would be able to return from July. However, later indicated that those timings would be reviewed once again due to the high number of cases in the community and less risk at the border.

To quote Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told AM on Monday, “This week we’ll be announcing those dates and the fact that they will be coming forward. Over the weekend we saw the ability to return for working visa holders so our backpackers that play such an important role in our horticulture and tourism industry, they’re now able to return… they are part of our workforce.”

“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got the workforce to support tourists which is one of the reasons why we brought them forward so we can get them in [the] country, get them into the jobs that need filling to prepare for tourism returning.”
In the next step of the reopening plan of the government, travellers who are fully vaccinated from Australia, countries that don’t need visas and those who already hold visitor visas that are valid can re-enter New Zealand.

“We’ve already said we are likely to bring the [reopening] dates forward for tourists to help accelerate our economy,” COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told TVNZ last week.

The tourism industry, in spite of being content about the requirements of self-isolation being scrapped, has long been speaking out about its worry on more businesses will face major problem if tourists didn’t return soon.

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• This week, Jacinda Ardern will visit the United States to increase exports and attract tourists