Australia and New Zealand Chart a Path Forward

As Australia and New Zealand begin lifting travel restrictions and regional travel resumes, it’s key to understand how both countries’ COVID responses have managed local economies, travel sectors, and health systems.

Due to geography and government policy, both Australia and New Zealand were spared many public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 and have nearly ceased community transmission. Both also made significant efforts to hibernate their economies and insulate citizens and small businesses from the personal economic impact—thus minimising job losses and preserving “the shape” of their local economies to allow more seamless return to normal as the health crisis abates.

Key Figures:

• AU$320 billion (US$209.7 billion) in aid and stimulus for the Australian economy, including income support and small business relief.
• Specific tax relief and stimulus for Australian local tourism operators and organisations.
• NZ$12.1 billion (US$7.36 billion) in stimulus for the New Zealand economy, including income support.
• Travel and Tourism recovery roadmaps released in early May, outlining three-phased response.

While there have, of course, been significant declines in tourism, there are a number of aspects that signify travel by Australians and New Zealanders will indeed rebound once given the green light: airlines have mostly maintained routes, simply pausing their schedules, many travellers have opted to hold credits rather than taking refunds, and online search trends indicate a continued wanderlust once conditions allow.