Fortress Australia opens to tourists

Australia will reopen its borders to tourists from February 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says, ending some of the world's strictest and longest-running pandemic travel restrictions.

"It's almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders," Morrison said, adding borders will reopen to all visa holders.

"If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia."

Despite the announcement, travel within Australia will still be restricted. The vast state of Western Australia remains closed to most nonresidents. It is currently easier to travel from Sydney to Paris than from Sydney to Perth.

Australia's ports and airports slammed shut to tourists in March 2020.

Since then, Australians have mostly been barred from leaving and only a handful of visitors have been granted exemptions to enter.

The rules have stranded nationals overseas, split families, hammered the country's multibillion-dollar tourist industry and prompted often bitter debates.

Every month of "Fortress Australia" policies has cost businesses an estimated US$2.6 billion (HK$20.28 billion), according to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"Our borders will have been closed to international tourists for 704 days," it said. "This will allow our flailing tourism sector to recover, saving businesses and saving livelihoods."

In recent months, rules have been gradually relaxed for Australians, long-term residents and students. The latest decision will see almost all remaining caps lifted.

It comes after the country's long-standing "Covid-zero" policy was abandoned, vaccination rates rose and the once stellar track-and-trace system collapsed under a wave of Omicron cases.

Only a handful of countries remain closed to tourists - among them Japan, China, New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations.

For Australia's travel and tourism sector - which struggled as visitor numbers fell almost 98 percent compared to prepandemic levels - the news brought elation.

"We're very excited about being able to reopen," said Tony Walker, managing director of the Quicksilver Group, which operates cruises, diving and resorts across the Great Barrier Reef.

"The last couple of years have been incredibly difficult for us."