'The wait is over': Australia welcomes international tourists as borders reopen

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared that the "wait is over" ahead of tomorrow's reopening of Australia's international borders.

Speaking at Melbourne Airport on Sunday morning, Morrison defended the country's very tight border restrictions over the past two years and said that because Australians "have done the hard yards" the country can now reopen to much needed tourism.
"We are very excited that from tomorrow international flights for visitors are able to return again," Mr Morrison said.

Tourists will once again be welcomed into the country tomorrow after two years of being shut out, with the initial 50 flights expected to touch down on Australian soil within the first 24 hours. More than half of the 50 will land into Sydney's international airport, coming from countries like Singapore, Japan and the US.

Travellers from all over the globe will now be eligible to visit Australia, however they must be double vaccinated before they fly."This is the exciting announcement the aviation sector has been waiting for," Australian Airports Association (AAA) Chief Executive James Goodwin said earlier this month. "International travel is only at 15 percent of pre-COVID levels so this is a positive step to help the recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors."  Mr Goodwin noted domestic routes would also get a vital boost from the return of international travellers. "International tourists don't just visit one Australian city," he said.