Paul AbbotDestination Queenstown chief executive Paul Abbot is calling on the Government to open the border with Australia and remove the requirement for fully vaccinated Australians to self-isolate. Given Queenstown-Lakes is one of the most highly vaccinated parts of New Zealand, Mr Abbot has urged Tourism Minister Stuart Nash to "at least consider" reopening the border, without restrictions, with Australia, "and to do it soon". "Australians would provide a lifeline for many businesses and potentially tide them over until other international markets open up completely," Mr Abbot said. Before Covid, there were more than 1000 tourism businesses operating across the district, which employed 58% of the local resident population. "It has been an incredibly stressful time for tourism businesses, and the other businesses who support the industry indirectly.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 13, 2021 15:34 UTC