A trip to the 333-island nation of Fiji just got easier as the country scraps its arrival test requirement. Also in the latest news, Argentina opens up, Taiwan resumes visa-free travel, and Australia is set to drop its mask mandate for domestic flights.
- Fiji drops its arrival test requirement
- Australia will scrap its domestic flight mask mandate
- Taiwan will resume visa-free travel
- Argentina drops all COVID-related entry requirements
- Japan is reopening to individual travellers
- Qantas launches new NYC route
- Mexico to debut its first tourist train
- Guatemala, St. Kitts and Nevis, Madagascar and France cut entry requirements
- Germany to reenact mask mandate
- New Zealand fully opens up
- Malaysia removes entry restrictions
- Frankfurt Airport says avoid black suitcases
- Australia + NZ passports ranked in top 10
- Bhutan opens with daily tourist tax
- Samoa opens up
Published: 07/09/2022
Fiji drops arrival test requirement
A trip to Fiji’s 333-island paradise just got easier. While travellers still need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and travel insurance to enter Fiji, a COVID-19 test at an approved testing facility is no longer required upon arrival. This means once you land, you can explore without worrying about making it to a testing clinic before the three-day window is up.
Come to Fiji for world class surfing and scuba diving, rainforest treks, white sand beaches, roaring waterfalls and stay for the hospitality you won’t find just about anywhere else.
Published: 07/09/2022
Masks will no longer be required on domestic flights from 9 September
Australia’s national cabinet has agreed to new COVID-19 changes that’ll start from 9 September. One of the largest changes to take hold is the removal of the mask requirement for passengers on domestic flights. However, mask mandates on public transportation like buses and trains will be up to local state and territory government leaders. On 9 September, the COVID-19 isolation period will be changed to five days of self isolation, down from seven days unless you have symptoms.
Published: 07/09/2022
Taiwan resumes visa-free travel with Australia and New Zealand
Taiwan will drop its visa requirements and allow visa-free travel once again for Aussie and Kiwi travellers from 12 September. While this is a large step for Taiwan in terms of opening up, there is still a 50,000 weekly passenger cap in place. Travellers must quarantine for three days upon arrival, followed by four days of self-isolation.
A trip to Taiwan, home of bubble tea, some of the world’s best night markets, the sky-high Taipei 101 tower, national parks, and temples galore, could be closer than you think!
Published: 07/09/2022
Argentina scraps all COVID-related entry requirements
Argentina is one of the first South American destinations to return to its pre-pandemic entry requirements. Travellers in search of Argentina’s exciting cities and natural wonders no longer have to provide proof of vaccination, take COVID tests, or quarantine. Get ready to go snowshoeing in the Andes, get misted by Iguazú Falls, dance the night away in Buenos Aires, and trek among glaciers.
Published: 07/09/2022
Japan will reopen to individual travellers
Get ready to take it on over to Tokyo as Japan eases its entry requirements for travellers from 7 September. Japan will no longer require a pre-departure COVID-19 test for travellers who are fully vaccinated (including a booster), and the daily arrivals cap will be raise from 20,000 to 50,000. Since June, tourists have been only been able to visit Japan as part of a group tour. Travellers will soon be able to travel without a guide, as long as their trip is booked through an official travel agent. Independent tourists will have to wait a little longer for Japan’s green light to get in.
Now is a great time to brush up on your Japanese and prepare for a trip to the tall towers of Tokyo, the temples of Kyoto, the relaxing onsens of Hyogo, the parks of Sapporo.
Qantas to launch SYD-AKL-NYC route
The Big Apple, Gotham, The City That Never Sleeps… New York City is known by many names, and it’s about to get a whole lot easier to see it for yourself. From June 2023, Qantas will fly from Sydney to Auckland to New York City (a move that’ll rival Air New Zealand’s AKL to NYC flight). This is a starting point for Project Sunrise from Qantas, which hopes to fly directly from Sydney to New York nonstop by late 2025.
Right now, flights to New York City stopover in Los Angeles–where travellers are required to go through immigration and collect their baggage before re-checking in and boarding their flight onward to New York.
So, what’s there to see in NYC? Take a stroll through Central Park, admire the glitz of Times Square, see the Statue of Liberty, and browse museums until you’ve upped your IQ score.
Updated: 07/09/2022
Mexico to debut its first tourist train
The Yucatan Peninsula has long been a beloved destination for history buffs, nature lovers and sunseekers on the hunt for a white sand beach. To cater to the region’s tourist hubs, Mexico will launch a scenic train running along a 1,800 kilometer track, called the Tren Maya (Mayan Train), that’ll stop at Cancun, Chiapa, Palenque, and more, making access to ancient Mayan sights even easier. This train is the first of eleven slated to be built from now until 2050.
Updated: 07/09/2022
More countries cut entry requirements
More and more countries are dropping their COVID-era entry requirements. Gone are the days of finding RAT or PCR testing centers, purchasing special travel insurance, quarantining, and providing proof of vaccination for many countries around the globe.
Get ready to frolic in France! Like many of its neighbours, France has removed all entry requirements. Now, travellers won’t have to worry about providing proof of vaccination status, quarantine or testing. With European summer winding down, the shoulder season is nearly here so you can cruise along the Seine River, stroll the streets of Paris, watch the sunset from the Eiffel Tower and visit the best patisseries in Lyon all without battling the crowds.
Craving tropical landscapes and sunshine? Over in Central America, Guatemala is the latest country to drop its entry requirements–following the footsteps of Costa Rica, Belize and El Salvador. In the Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis also no longer has entry restrictions. Madagascar, just off the coast of eastern Africa, is also easy to enter now that all its travel requirements have been removed.
Updated: 07/09/2022
Malaysia axes entry restrictions for travellers
Make it on over to Malaysia to explore the cool city of Kuala Lumpur, admire the street art of Penang and lay low in Langkawi. All travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, no longer need to complete pre- or post-arrival tests, obtain travel insurance, quarantine or show proof of recovery. Some travellers will still need to download the MySejahtera App, but will not need to enter the field for vaccination status.
Updated: 07/09/2022
Head of Frankfurt Airport says think twice before buying a black suitcase
You might’ve heard of the baggage woes taking place all across airports globally. Due to staff shortages and an uptick in travel, many airports have yet to smooth out their baggage handling processes. Head of Frankfurt Airport states that ubiquitous black suitcases could partially be to blame. Why? Well, when baggage handlers are sent to recover a lost suitcase, they collectively spend countless hours searching for a black suitcase in a sea of similar looking ones, when a brightly coloured or distinct suitcase could stand out more, therefore making baggage handling more efficient. Consider this your sign to buy that suitcase cover with a photo of your pet printed across it!
Updated: 07/09/2022
Aussie and Kiwi passports are some of the most powerful in the world in 2022
A report known as the Henley Passport Index, analysed the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can visit without a visa. This report ranked New Zealand among the top 7 most powerful passports, as holders can access 186 destinations without a visa. Australia trailed slightly behind and is among the top 8 most powerful passports, with access to 185 destinations. 30 countries in the world can access 182 destinations without a visa.
Updated: 07/09/2022
Bhutan opens with daily tourist tax
For the first time in over two years, the small Himalayan country of Bhutan will open to tourists in late September. Tourists will be required to pay $200 USD ($290 AUD) per night, a steep increase from the $65 USD ($93 AUD) charged pre-pandemic. Tourism professionals in Bhutan state that this tax is meant to enforce high standards in the tourism industry, and offset travellers’ carbon footprints.
Updated: 07/09/2022
Samoa opens its borders
The Polynesian paradise of Samoa opened its borders on 1 August. Start practicing your diving skills to take the plunge into the teal pool of To-Sua Trench. Travellers must show proof of vaccination and take a COVID-19 test (RAT test 24 hours before departure or PCR within 48 hours of departure). Passengers may also be required to take a test on arrival as well as on day 5. Only hard proof of vaccine documents will be accepted.
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