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SYDNEY: Australia is considering opening its borders to Asian countries, including parts of China, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday (November 10), as Canberra seeks to revive an economy devastated by COVID-19.
Australia in March closed its borders to all non-citizens and permanent residents, though in October Canberra allowed New Zealand residents to enter. Internal travel is limited, although those restrictions are scheduled to be lifted by the end of the year.
Morrison ruled out entry from the United States or Europe, but said Australia can allow people from low-risk places like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and even provinces in China.
“We are … looking at what alternative arrangements could be made to channel visitors through quarantine arrangements appropriate for low-risk countries,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
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China was one of the first countries from which Australia restricted entry.
The consideration of easing travel restrictions comes as Morrison said Australia has gone three days without any locally acquired COVID-19 cases.
All cases have been detected in quarantined local inhabitants who have recently returned from abroad.
The revival in tourism would be a much-needed boost to Australia’s economy, which contracted 7% in the three months ending in June, the most since records began in 1959.
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Tourism in 2019 accounted for 3.1% of the country’s gross domestic product and contributed nearly A $ 61 billion (US $ 44.42 billion) to the economy, government data shows.
Although many Australians are taking holidays locally, many tour operators are struggling and have been forced to disengage.
Unemployment rose to 6.9 percent in September, official data showed.
Morrison said Australia will extend higher unemployment benefits through the end of March, albeit at a reduced rate.
Currently the unemployed are paid A $ 815 every two weeks, but this will drop to A $ 715 by the end of December.
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