The tourism industry will bounce back “very quickly” once the international border reopens on February 21, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says.
“International tourists will be very keen to resume visiting Australia,” Tehan tells ABC TV. “We have seen it when it comes to international students, and backpackers. We’ve had 28,000 backpackers come to Australia since we said backpackers could come back. Last week alone, 7000 international students returned to take up their studies here.”
He says the government will spend $7 million to $8 million immediately to attract tourists from key markets.
“We’re ready to go with the marketing campaigns, we’ve got the money there, because, obviously, we’ve dialled down our marketing through the last two years.”
He says there are no plans to change the requirement from double vaccination.
“Double vaxxed is what we should be asking people to be,” he says.
The next reopening on the agenda is the cruising industry.
“So we’re very keen to reopen cruising. That is next.”