Today, the Australian Government announced that it will be welcoming back fully vaccinated travelers for quarantine-free travel to the country starting on Feb. 21.
"Australia has long been a popular destination for American travelers, with 818,000 U.S. visitors travelling to our country in 2019 pre-COVID-19, and we are really excited that we will have the opportunity to welcome back visitors from the U.S., one of our key international markets, as travel resumes,” said Phillipa Harrison, managing director of Tourism Australia.
Australia Entry Requirements for U.S. Travelers
To enter Australia, Americans will need to have a valid U.S. passport and a visa or approved Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Travelers can apply for the ETA beforehand, and it’s valid for up to 90 days. (This was also the case prior to the pandemic.)
... We are really excited that we will have the opportunity to welcome back visitors from the U.S., one of our key international markets, as travel resumes.
Travelers will need to be fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and provide proof of vaccination status. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines are approved by TGA.
American travelers must also present a negative rapid antigen test or PCR COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure (unless a medical exemption applies).
Can Travelers Visit All of Australia?
Travelers with an Australian visa and full vaccination status can visit all states and territories of Australia with the exception of Western Australia.
The Australian government suggests that travelers familiarize themselves with the specific rules and protocols of the areas they are visiting prior to their trip, and that entry requirements are subject to change. It also advises travelers to check requirements for stopover areas.
Expect Marketing Campaigns to Lure Back Americans
According to Chris Allison, regional general manager of the Americas for Tourism Australia, the agency will be working with its trade and distribution partners on dedicated marketing campaigns to drive bookings and recovery for Australia’s hard-hit tourism economy.
The U.S. is Australia’s third-largest market for international visitation and second-most valuable for spend, making American visitors a priority target in the resurgence of Australian tourism.
“The U.S. is Australia’s third-largest market for international visitation and second-most valuable for spend, making American visitors a priority target in the resurgence of Australian tourism,” Allison said. “In 2019, U.S. travelers spent a total $3.9 billion on Australian travel.”
According to the December 2019 International Visitor Survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Americans made up 9% of Australia’s total international arrivals. Overall expenditure by U.S. travelers equated to $3.9 billion, of which $2.6 billion was spent by leisure travelers alone. On average, Americans spend $4,638 per trip, and the most per night of all markets at $303.
U.S. travelers spend an average of 13 nights vacationing in Australia, of which 69% are spent in capital cities. Peak periods of travel occur from October to March, the months representing 59% of all travel.
