Who would have thought in early 2020 when Australia’s first COVID-19 case was discovered, that it would be nearly two years before Australians could travel freely overseas.

But international travel is back on agenda according to Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade and Tourism, who said the government is hopeful borders will be open by Christmas. It’s been a period of immense turmoil for thousands of Aussies who have been separated from family and friends due to the pandemic and border closures.

“I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year,” Tehan said during his address at National Press Club. “It’s another reason why everyone should get vaccinated and we have to stick to the national plan that will see our international border open up… at this rate by Christmas at the latest.”

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According to the national plan, once 80 per cent of the nation’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated, Australians will be able to travel internationally without restrictions. As of September 24, just over 49 per cent of Aussies aged over 16 years were fully vaccinated. 

But travel won’t be like days of old. 

Plans for vaccine passports have been unveiled and Minister Tehan said that these passports will be trialled for diplomatic missions with countries including Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Korea, before being allocated to the wider population.

However, it’s still unclear whether we’ll only be able to travel to specific countries or if the entire world will be open to us. 

But at long last, it looks like international travel is going to be a reality again. That’s got to be one of the best Christmas presents ever. 

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