New Zealand

2022 - 3 - 15

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Image courtesy of "WYPR"

New Zealand will open its borders to some tourists much earlier than ... (WYPR)

The move is meant to speed up the recovery of the island nation's pandemic-battered economy, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday.

Tourism, previously a multibillion dollar industry that made up more than 16% of New Zealand's annual gross domestic product, has taken a significant hit since the pandemic began two years ago when the country swiftly shut its borders and implemented some of the toughest immigration controls in the world. Much better than many of its other Pacific neighbors, particularly the smaller, tourism and commodity-dependent island countries. Citizens from countries that require a visa, such as China, will still have to wait until October, but Ardern said that could change.

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Image courtesy of "KGMI"

New Zealand to 'welcome the world back' as tourism restarts (KGMI)

By NICK PERRY Associated Press WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday her nation was “ready to welcome the ...

“I know from visiting tourism operators, and talking to their staff, how tough these past two years have been,” Ardern said. The measures were initially credited with saving thousands of lives and allowed New Zealand to eliminate or contain several outbreaks. Tourists from non-waiver countries — including India and China — will need to wait longer, unless they already have valid visitor visas.

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

U.S. Travelers Can Visit New Zealand Beginning In May (Forbes)

M ore than two years after shutting her country down at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern says it's time to open ...

“We are a safe place to visit, and New Zealand will be ready with open arms.” Throughout 2020, New Zealand was one of only a handful of countries that successfully contained Covid-19, due to the government’s decision to close its borders and impose strict lockdowns. Travelers from non-waiver countries, including India and China, will need to wait longer.

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Image courtesy of "masslive.com"

New Zealand to reopen borders to international tourism after two ... (masslive.com)

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Wednesday that her country will reopen its borders to most international tourists by May.

Visa-waiver countries include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and many nations in Europe, according to the New Zealand government. Scenic New Zealand, known for its diverse and stunning landscapes, had international tourism account for roughly 20% of its foreign income and over 5% of its GDP before the pandemic, according to the AP. New Zealand enacted some of the strictest measures in the world at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 such as closing off its borders to foreigners to prevent the spread of COVID internally for its roughly 5 million citizens.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

New Zealand will reopen to U.S. visitors after more than two years (The Washington Post)

Beginning April 12, vaccinated Australian visitors can enter the country without having to quarantine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a news briefing ...

Despite its strict border-control measures, new cases in the country have recently soared. “And so we strike the balance,” she said. “We have now received guidance that it is safe to significantly bring forward the next stage of border-reopening work, to welcome back our tourists,” Ardern said.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

FOMO Turns to FOOP in New Zealand's Cooling Housing Market (Bloomberg)

FOMO Turns to FOOP in New Zealand's Cooling Housing Market · Credit squeeze and rising borrowing costs put brake on demand · House prices expected to fall by as ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

New Zealand set to reopen borders to international tourists (CNN)

After more than two years, New Zealand will reopen its borders to Australians starting April 12, and to international tourists from visa-waiver countries ...

While this may be great news for travel-starved Americans, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently added New Zealand to Level 4, its highest risk category. Two and a half weeks later, vaccinated tourists from visa-waiver countries and those with valid visitor visas will also be able to enter quarantine-free. (CNN) —After more than two years, New Zealand will reopen its borders to Australians starting April 12, and to international tourists from visa-waiver countries from May 1, the government announced on Wednesday, March 16.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

New Zealand to open borders to vaccinated travellers from next month (The Guardian)

After two years spent closed off by the pandemic, prime minister Jacinda Ardern says 'we're ready to welcome the world back'

We’re now known globally as not just being clean and green, but also being safe, so we know that we’ll be in high demand,” Ardern said. The announcement will come as a relief for the country’s tourism and hospitality businesses, many of which have struggled to survive the border closures. Nash said it would take time to rebuild the sector. While those with approved visitor visas from anywhere in the world can enter from May, tourists from countries without visa waivers – including China and India – at this stage are will not be able to enter until October. Ardern said those dates would also be reviewed. “We have missed you.” From 13 April, vaccinated tourists from Australia will be able to enter the country without isolating.

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