Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Leeann Watson says businesses have been eagerly awaiting
today’s announcement regarding the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
The Prime Minister today announced that Cabinet has approved a proposal for quarantine-free trans-Tasman travel, set to
come into effect on April 19.
Ms Watson says the tight border controls have been one of the key challenges for the local business community, so the
announcement will be "a welcome relief".
"The significant impact of the border restrictions on spending in the region and the ability for business to operate and
trade at capacity has been very keenly felt, with pockets of the business community severely hit.
"Prior to Covid-19, Australia was Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest international visitor market, accounting for almost
half of all international visitor arrivals, and spending approximately $2.7 billion, so as we head into the colder
months, an influx of visitors from Australia will have a significant positive impact on many businesses, particularly in
the hospitality and tourism sectors. It will also be a boost for small businesses, such as retailers, who rely on
international tourism spend, and are also shouldering additional costs due to operating in a Covid environment and the
increased Minimum Wage from 1 April.
"Our ski season in Canterbury and the South Island is typically a key drawcard for many Australian visitors, and with
53% of Australian holiday visitors flying direct to the South Island pre-Covid, this will help to spread some economic
benefits to the smaller tourism-reliant regions that are really hurting, such as Te Anau, as well as being a win for
Ōtautahi Christchurch as the Gateway to the South. We also know that Christchurch Airport is ready and safe for
travellers.
"There’s no doubt strict border management from a year ago was the right thing to do from a public health perspective,
so it is time now to also focus on our country’s economic health and protecting the livelihoods of our community. We
also know just how important it is for the health and wellbeing of our people who have been unable to visit with friends
and whānau across the Tasman for over a year."
As well as the benefits of increased spend from in-bound travel, Ms Watson says a safe travel zone will remove a
significant hurdle for businesses reliant on trans-Tasman travel, particularly under-pressure exporters and
manufacturers.
"In a highly connected marketplace, this is an important milestone for businesses where trans-Tasman travel is a
critical part of the business, such as exporters and those with highly specialised staff. Removing the need and cost of
quarantine, and the bottleneck caused by limited MIQ spots will enable businesses to again respond quickly to market
requirements and opportunities and be able to readily engage in time-sensitive travel where needed.
"The Government’s extension of the aviation relief package to the end of October and consideration of extending support
until the end of March 2022 if necessary, will also give certainty to under pressure exporters, which shows the
Government’s commitment to support exporters until the increased freights costs and disruptions ease.
"With the vaccination roll-out gaining momentum, we are optimistic that we have started to reach a turning point in our
response to one of the most significant economic disruptors of our generation."