On May 1, 2022, New Zealand will start welcoming international tourists once again. An announcement stated that the reopening will start with visitors from visa waiver countries such as the United States, Canada, and many others.
Tourists from those nations won’t need to quarantine automatically upon arrival.
Before a visitor can enter the country, they must offer proof of complete vaccination. Additionally, they need to show negative results from a pre-departure COVID-19 test.
Once they arrive at Auckland Airport, travelers will receive two free rapid antigen tests.
They’ll need to take one of the tests upon leaving the airport. The other will be for five to six days after entry.
If a visitor tests positive at either point, New Zealand’s rules will require them to take a PCR test to determine the results’ accuracy. When PCR tests confirm positive antigen tests, tourists will have to self-quarantine.
Though only vaccinated tourists are welcome, New Zealand does allow its unvaccinated residents and citizens to enter. They must quarantine upon arrival, unlike vaccinated visitors.
The plan so far covers only air travel, neglecting information about the resumption of New Zealand cruises. That’s in contrast to Australia, which will lift its cruise ban on April 17.
René de Monchy, Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, stated that the nation is looking forward to welcoming visitors soon. Monchy also mentioned the beauty, wildlife, and culture the country offers.
Previously, New Zealand authorities had planned to reopen borders in July.
Almost 80% of the nation’s population is fully vaccinated, significantly higher than the worldwide average of 57%. Nonetheless, New Zealand is seeing thousands of new cases each day.
However, the rapid spread is likely related to the omicron variant, which appears far less deadly than earlier variants.