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Adorable Collie sells for world record-breaking price

A border collie has been sold for a world record-breaking amount at the Ray White Rockhampton Working Dog Sale and Trial. Helen and James Parker paid $40,000 for Liz, a border collie who they describe as the "whole package". The couple, who run a wagyu cattle farm in Monto, Queensland are keen to welcome the pup who will help them muster cattle as part of the day-to-day running of the farm. "We leave in the morning early, they might do three to four hours mustering in the morning, then we get the cattle to the yard and then in the afternoon we'll walk them away," Helen said. "Our mustering round's about a week, so all day for a week, so some big days and it's hot up here in summer so they need to be able to travel and follow us on a horse and big days in hot conditions so we can't do the job without them." Liz, who was raised by Joe Leven, is the second dog the couple have purchased from Joe, and they say the price was worth it. "We weren't planning on breaking records but we're happy to have her," Helen told 2GB's Ben Fordham. "She's the whole package, she's got breeding behind her, she has all herding ability, natural instinct. I just think she's a great asset to our team." Although Liz is an unusual name for a cattle dog, it is actually a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth. "Joe named them and there's a bit of a story behind how Liz got her name. She was born the year that Queen Elizabeth passed away, so she's really upheld her name, she's the queen," Helen explained. The Rockhampton Working Dog trial and Sale was a success for Joe and Cabra Glebe Working Dogs, who managed to sell another dog, Jenny for $38,000. Image: Ray White Working dog sale Facebook

Family & Pets

Allan Border's desperate plea to PM

Allan Border has joined Parkinson’s Australia chief executive Olivia Nassaris in a plea for the Federal Government to provide more funding and research into the condition. The 68-year-old cricket legend is one of over 150,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s, after being diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder back in 2016. A new report from the organisation revealed that there are 19,500 new cases every year, with one Australian diagnosed with the condition every 27 minutes. “A lot of people know the disease but they don’t know the impact that it has — 150,000 people in Australia have the disease, it does present in different ways,” Border said. “When I was told I was suffering, my first image was of (boxer) Muhammad Ali and the Olympic torch, I just thought people suffered from a tremor. “But there’s about 100,000 different ways of it presenting.” Border joined the Parkinson’s Australia chief executive on April 11 to raise awareness for World Parkinson’s Day. Nassaris estimated that the number of Australians impacted by Parkinson’s would almost triple by 2050. “At the moment we don’t have a cause or cure, so it is frightening that a disease like this is going to almost triple in numbers,” she said. Responding to the cricketer’s plea, the Prime Minister described Border as a “great Australian” and hinted at a potential boost to government support in providing more resources into the condition. “Our heart goes out to him,” the PM said on Thursday. “I will have a word with the Health Minister about what more we can do. We have contributed over $100m to research into Parkinson’s. “There’s also a pilot program for nurses about people suffering from Parkinson’s at the moment. There’s some $6.5m being used for that pilot program. We want to wait and see what the assessment of that is.” Images: Getty

Caring

Entire town bans annoying influencers from entering its borders

In the serene hamlet of Pomfret, Vermont, an extraordinary decision has been reached to combat the overwhelming presence of influencers and tourists who have inundated the town's peaceful streets. This picturesque countryside haven, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, has taken the audacious step of barring entry to all influencers and tourists. Pomfret, nestled in the heart of New England, has long been a magnet for visitors seeking to capture the exquisite autumnal tapestry that paints the town in warm, rustic hues – a perfect setting for their coveted "fall" photographs. Vermont, as a whole, typically draws more than 13 million tourists annually, and Pomfret, with its population of a mere 916, has witnessed a significant influx during the autumn months, particularly September and October. While the town has a history of welcoming tourists, the character of these visitors has undergone a profound transformation in the last half-decade. Gone are the days of nature enthusiasts and out-of-town guests staying at cozy local bed-and-breakfasts. Pomfret is now attracting a new breed of visitor: the social media luminaries eagerly hunting for content to grace their online profiles. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ‘Christian Girl Autumn’ influencer Caitlin Covington announces she is going to Vermont in October to take her annual Fall photos. 🍂 <a href="https://t.co/nZjRCWvPIE">pic.twitter.com/nZjRCWvPIE</a> — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1703840317907021849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> Mike Doten, a resident whose family has deep roots in the area, humorously dubs this emerging group "TikTockers" and cites them as the catalyst behind this drastic measure. Cloudland Road, a narrow, unpaved stretch renowned for its spectacular views of picturesque farms, rolling hills and vibrant foliage, was once a tranquil destination for nature enthusiasts. However, it has now become an internet sensation and a must-visit spot for "leaf-peepers" across the state. Unfortunately, this newfound fame has brought a series of issues in its wake. The new wave of tourists is often described as rude, disrespectful, impatient and selfish. They go to great lengths to capture the perfect photograph or video, often disregarding the impact on those around them. Local farmer Cathy Emmons recounted an incident where an influencer trespassed onto private property, erecting a makeshift changing booth and emerging in different outfits for her selfies. There have also been reports of tourists casually invading farms and helping themselves to produce, with one individual spotted plucking tomatoes from Cathy's farm. Another resident recalled a particularly unsettling incident when a drone hovered just feet above his head during an evening dinner with his family. In a separate incident, a tourist parked illegally in a resident's driveway and, astonishingly, used the garden shed as a makeshift toilet. The surge in tour buses and cars has caused gridlock on Pomfret's narrow roads, rendering them impassable and obstructing the movement of emergency vehicles. In response, the local council issued a memo announcing road closures to motor vehicle traffic from September 23rd to October 15th, specifically targeting Cloudland Road in Pomfret and the entire length of Cloudland Road in Woodstock, both heavily frequented tourist areas. Furthermore, the town has implemented temporary parking restrictions, signage and barriers. The memo cited concerns related to safety, environmental impact, aesthetics, and overall quality of life, emphasising a comprehensive effort to address these issues in collaboration with residents, local government partners and through communication on various information platforms. These traffic mitigation measures will also restrict access to the famed Sleepy Hollow Farm, a private residence that has become a hotspot for influencers seeking the perfect selfie backdrop. In response to these challenges, local residents have launched a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-cloudland-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe campaign titled "Save Cloudland Road"</a> to raise funds for road closures and traffic enforcement during the autumn season. The campaign's description highlights the surge of Instagram and TikTok-driven tourists, many of whom derive income from sponsorships and have transformed a private residence on Cloudland Road into a sought-after social media photo destination. The influx has led to overcrowding, accidents, damage to roads, gardens, and private property, as well as confrontations with residents. Can the community surrounding Cloudland Road, in partnership with the towns of Pomfret and Woodstock, restore tranquility, safety and civility to their cherished enclave? Their plea is clear: to regain peace for the families who call this idyllic corner of Vermont home. Images: GoFundMe / Instagram

Travel Trouble

00-No: US traveller puts border security to the test with a golden gun

A 28-year-old traveller from the United States has been arrested after Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered a firearm in her luggage. According to a report on the ABF website, the weapon - a 24-carat gold-plated handgun - was unregistered, and the passenger was not in possession of “a permit to import or possess the firearm in Australia.” If convicted, she will face up to 10 years of imprisonment. And while she was arrested and charged, she was released on bail at Downing Centre Local Court, and is expected to face court again in a month’s time. She remains subject to visa cancellation, and faces the likelihood of being removed from Australia. As ABF Enforcement and Detained Goods East Commander Justin Bathurst explained, the discovery was made with a combination of ABC officer skills and detection technology, one that served to prevent a dangerous weapon from entering the Australian community. “Time and time again, we have seen just how good ABF officers are at targeting and stopping illegal, and highly dangerous, goods from crossing Australia's border," he said. “The ABF is Australia's first and most important line of defence. ABF officers are committed to protecting our community by working with law enforcement partners to prevent items like unregistered firearms getting through at the border." Photos distributed by the ABF present the image of the gun in its case, as well as a scan of the passenger’s luggage, with the gun clearly visible among the rest of her possessions. While travellers on domestic flights within the United States are able to carry firearms in their checked luggage - granted they are unloaded and securely locked away, and the proper authorities have been informed - Australia has much stricter laws surrounding firearms. In the wake of a 1996 Tasmanian tragedy, in which 35 people lost their lives to a gunman, all automatic and semi-automatic weapons were outlawed in the country. Meanwhile, in the United States, a frightening sum of 6,301 were confiscated at checkpoints as of December 2022, according to the Transportation Security Administration. For many, the news was broken on social media, with comments sections reflecting the shock - and disapproval - of the masses, with the occasional 007 reference thrown in. “Smuggling firearms into Australia is a serious offence,” wrote one on Twitter, “and should be met with the full force of the law as it endangers citizen safety.” “That’s a fantastic bit of security work by our airport staff,” someone commended. Another had one very important question, asking “how did she get it out of the US to begin with...??? TSA should have caught that at the airport before she even left. Even if it was in a checked bag, it still had to be declared.” Images: Australian Border Force

Travel Trouble

An Italian lodge jumps the Swiss border

The borders in the European Alps have been the source of some strange happenings recently, including a border-jumping ski lodge. Refugio Cervino, a two-storey lodge built on the Italian side of Theodul Glacier, has been slowly moving towards Switzerland - and its international movement has called its ownership and national boundaries into dispute. The border between Italy and Switzerland has previously been defined at the boundary of the Theodul drainage divide, the point where melted water either flows south to Italy or north towards Switzerland. However, rising temperatures have changed the flow of water. As a result, two-thirds of the Refugio sits in Switzerland while the remaining third is in Italy, and has become a subject of diplomatic negotiations. According to Agence France Presse, a compromise to redraw the boundaries was reached last year - but that doesn’t stop the ever-increasing glacier melt. Swisstopo, which stays on top of the official boundaries of the Confédération Helvétique, will be changing the boundaries in 2023. "We agreed to split the difference," chief border official Alain Wicht told AFP. Though international surveyors have previously been brought in to determine where the boundary should sit previously, Mr Wicht says the Refugio is a sensitive issue as the Theodul Glacier is “the only place where we suddenly had a building involved”. The Swiss have taken a more neutral stance in the debate, but the Italians are unwilling to part with the building without compensation, "The refuge remains Italian because we have always been Italian," Refugio’s caretaker, 51-year-old Lucio Trucco, says. For now, the refuge will be an enclave of Italy within Switzerland until the borders are changed. Image: Getty Images

International Travel

Alcohol marketing has crossed borders and entered the metaverse – how do we regulate the new digital risk?

The World Health Organization’s newly <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240046504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released report</a> on regulating cross-border alcohol marketing raises the alarm for countries like Australia and New Zealand, given their light touch towards alcohol advertising. Alcohol is widely consumed in Australasia but there is ongoing tension over how much restraint, if any, should be placed on the marketing of these products. Australia and New Zealand are at the unrestrained end of the marketing continuum. Both countries rely on industry-led policy in the form of voluntary codes – an approach identified as insufficient by the WHO report. What is cross-border alcohol marketing? Alcohol marketing, created and disseminated in one country and spread across borders into others, is commonly used by multinational corporations striving to increase sales and normalise alcohol as an everyday product. Much of this advertising is taking place in the digital media sphere. The increased use of these media platforms by alcohol corporations allows them access to cheap advertising opportunities. For as <a href="https://au.reset.tech/uploads/resettechaustralia_profiling-children-for-advertising-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">little as US$2</a>, an advertising campaign based in Australia could reach a thousand young people profiled as interested in alcohol, for example. Marketing across digital media has also increased the impact of those messages. Brands interact with users on social media platforms, encouraging the posting, sharing and liking of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33573719/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">branded images and messages</a>. Higher user engagement is associated with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32079562/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more drinking</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="AB InBev logo behind a smartphone also showing the logo" /><figcaption>Multinational corporations like AB InBev have been quick to embrace digital platforms as a new way to advertise alcohol products. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/in-this-photo-illustration-an-ab-inbev-logo-is-seen-on-a-news-photo/1234971135?adppopup=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pavlo Gonchar/Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Targeting the individual The increased power of these advertisements reflects the effectiveness of “personalised marketing”. Companies can now target individuals and “look alike” audiences. This approach is made possible thanks to the enormous amount of data collected as we interact together, purchase products and indicate our interests and passions through our clicks and likes. This data is extremely valuable to marketers and alcohol corporations. It gives them insight into the best time of day, the best brand of alcohol and the best type of marketing message to send our way. All groups across society are vulnerable to being bombarded by messages encouraging the purchase and consumption of alcohol. Digital advertising can target everyone: teenagers looking for brands which exemplify their identity; young adults, the heaviest “occasion drinkers” in Australia and New Zealand, some of whom are developing drinking habits that may be hard to change in later life; and adults of all ages who wish to reduce their consumption, often for health reasons. Digital media has become an all-encompassing marketing environment in which the “buy” button – with home delivery and often no checks on age or intoxication – provides a seamless marketing and distribution system. In New Zealand, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online sales</a> increased significantly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, particularly among heavier drinkers. Entering the metaverse The alcohol industry is now showing its initiative by entering the emerging <a href="https://www.ypulse.com/article/2022/02/03/metaverse-mansions-more-tiktok-how-brands-are-marketing-for-this-years-super-bowl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metaverse</a>. To understand the metaverse, <a href="https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/technology/brave-new-world-how-the-metaverse-may-shape-our-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to one commentator</a>, you should <blockquote> take today’s social media, add a splash of sophisticated 3D, fold in a plethora of options for entertainment and gaming, garnish it all with data-driven personalisation, and you are all set to take away your order of a supersized social media network, the metaverse. </blockquote> In terms of marketing, this provides a new opportunity. The biometric data essential to a virtual reality experience is also available to develop “<a href="https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol23/iss1/1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biometric psychographics</a>”, allowing for the even greater personalisation of advertising. Virtual alcohol brands created and used by avatars in the metaverse support the development of brand allegiance in real life, and virtual reality will transform e-commerce experiences and increase the power of sponsorship. AB InBev, the largest global alcohol corporation, was an early adopter of the metaverse. One of its brands, <a href="https://sifted.eu/articles/metaverse-brands-nft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stella Artois</a>, is sponsoring the Australian Zed Run platform on which virtual horses can be raced, bred and traded. The Zed Run platform experienced 1,000% growth in early 2021. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Two people stand in front of a screen with a digital image of a horse." /><figcaption>Digital horse racing game Zed Run has exploded in popularity, with alcohol companies using the digital platform to reach a new audience. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/performers-tyra-cartledge-and-kendall-drury-takes-part-in-a-news-photo/1329475903?adppopup=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Regulating to reduce alcohol harm The digital world is extremely dynamic. It is also opaque to most policy makers and public health practitioners. It is telling that there is no reference to the metaverse as a cross-border alcohol marketing opportunity in the WHO report. There is an urgent need for debate regarding how policy makers should better understand the risks involved with the targeted marketing of hazardous products such as alcohol. The WHO report outlines various partial and unsuccessful approaches to regulating marketing in the digital media. Attempts, such as <a href="https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/303690/Alcohol_marketing_on_social_media_sites_in_Finland_and_Sweden_2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finland’s</a> regulation of user-shared branded material, have failed because they did not interfere with the basic architecture of the social media platforms, which is predicated on engagement via sharing and liking. The most successful examples offered by the WHO report have been countries like Norway, which have imposed a complete ban on alcohol marketing including in the digital media. The report emphasises the need for surveillance and enforcement, suggesting ways in which alcohol companies could be penalised for marketing breaches. The support provided by international agreements such as the <a href="https://fctc.who.int/who-fctc/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Framework Convention on Tobacco Control</a> is identified as a possible template for future discussions. The response to tobacco marketing provides a good and largely effective model for officials and policy makers. That said, the public health goal for alcohol is not equivalent to the smokefree goal. Advocates are not trying to eliminate alcohol altogether. However, there are parallel arguments in favour of creating a healthier media environment through regulation to prevent the promotion of alcohol products via increasingly sophisticated technological and psychological tools. These products are significant causes of reduced well-being, and this marketing increases consumption and therefore harm. The messages of the WHO report are timely and should be heeded.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/183334/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sally-casswell-862029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sally Casswell</a>, Professor of public health policy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massey University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/alcohol-marketing-has-crossed-borders-and-entered-the-metaverse-how-do-we-regulate-the-new-digital-risk-183334" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

New Zealand’s borders to open earlier than expected

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that New Zealand’s border will be open to all visitors from July 31 - two months earlier than expected. While speaking at a Business NZ lunch in Auckland on Wednesday, Ms Ardern confirmed the new date for reopening, initially set for October, which will see all visa categories be allowed in. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdZ_FWOsVC5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdZ_FWOsVC5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Grounded Kiwis (@groundedkiwis)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ms Ardern also announced changes to immigration, including pathways for highly skilled workers in global demand to gain residency, as reported by the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-jacinda-ardern-confirms-new-zealands-borders-fully-reopen-from-july-31/XF6OWFMGGLRGXTENVOSRQKGV5U/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a>. “New Zealand is in demand and now fully open for business,” she said. “This will be welcome news for families, businesses and our migrant communities. It also provides certainty and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies planning a return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer seasons.” The changes will also be welcomed by the tertiary education sector - who can now welcome back international students, as well as industries suffering from worker shortages and split migrant families who need visas and have been separated for over two years. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

As borders reopen, can New Zealand reset from high volume to ‘high values’ tourism?

With the <a href="https://covid19.govt.nz/international-travel/travel-to-new-zealand/when-new-zealand-borders-open/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reopening of New Zealand’s borders</a> from next week, the future of tourism comes into sharp relief. Flattened by the pandemic and having survived on domestic consumption for two years, the industry has a choice: try to revive the old ways, or develop a new model. If tourism minister Stuart Nash has his way, there is <a href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/otago-university-tourism-policy-school-%E2%80%9Cstructural-change-regenerative-tourism%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no going back</a>. “Tourism won’t return to the way it was,” he told Otago University’s <a href="https://events.otago.ac.nz/otps2022/programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tourism Policy School</a> recently, “it will be better.” But how? The question is coming down to the various definitions of “value” – both the monetary and less tangible kinds. When Nash <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/430862/tourism-minister-to-ban-tourist-vans-that-are-not-self-contained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addressed a tourism summit</a> in late 2020, “high value” clearly meant “high spending”. New Zealand would “unashamedly” target the wealthy – the type of tourist who “flies business class or premium economy, hires a helicopter, does a tour around Franz Josef and then eats at a high-end restaurant.” The minister also asked: “Do you think that we want to become a destination for those freedom campers and backpackers who don’t spend much and leave the high net worth individuals to other countries?” There was immediate concern that such a policy would overlook the broader <a href="https://theconversation.com/5-reasons-why-banishing-backpackers-and-targeting-wealthy-tourists-would-be-a-mistake-for-nz-150639" target="_blank" rel="noopener">value of “lower-end”</a> tourism: backpackers and other budget tourists might not spend as much per day, but they tend to travel for longer periods, bring dollars to remoter locations, and often work in understaffed industries like horticulture and hospitality. At the same time, high-spending tourists hiring helicopters tend to place a high per-capita burden on the environment and contribute more to <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-borders-open-and-international-travel-resumes-will-new-zealands-sky-high-aviation-emissions-take-off-again-179941" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>. Clearly, what constitutes “high value” is up for debate. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 'Warmest welcome you can imagine' - PM opens doors to tourists <a href="https://t.co/7zj7bHbbaw">https://t.co/7zj7bHbbaw</a> — RNZ News (@rnz_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/rnz_news/status/1504711690478268416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote> From high value to high values Now, however, the minister is <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/463982/tourism-can-no-longer-be-built-on-the-back-of-cheap-labour-stuart-nash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defining the high-value tourist</a> differently. They give back more than they take, appreciate those working in the tourism sector, are keen to learn about the people and places they are visiting, are environmentally aware and offset their carbon emissions. This shift in thinking prompted one participant at the tourism policy school to suggest that instead of “high value” tourism, New Zealand needs to be talking about “high values” tourism. The sentiment chimed with the policy school’s theme of “structural change for regenerative tourism”, and a general feeling that this will involve looking inward to certain core values that matter to the country. Attendees – including industry leaders, academics, government officials and tourism business owners – supported the idea that “regenerative” in this context matches the important Māori values of <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/kaitiakitanga-guardianship-and-conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kaitiakitanga</a>, <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/kotahitanga-unity-movements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kotahitanga</a> and <a href="https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=manaakitanga" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manaakitanga</a>, which should inform the future direction of tourism in Aotearoa. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455950/original/file-20220403-95783-x0s687.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>A carving workshop at Rotorua: according the same respect and mana to hosts and visitors alike. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Mana and manaakitanga The implications of this approach were well articulated by Nadine ToeToe, director of Kohutapu Lodge, an award-winning tourism business in the central North Island. She proposed a new tourism model that advances manaakitanga (kindness and hospitality) to guests, while also enhancing the <a href="https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=mana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mana</a> of their hosts, local communities and the surrounding environment. With her business based in the area around Murupara, which is beset by historical injustices and downturns in the forestry industry, ToeToe described the potential of tourism to move beyond simple service industry conventions. Rather, more authentic, culturally embedded experiences could be offered, based on building respectful relationships with the people and places visited. This would mean manaakitanga was reciprocal, benefiting both guests and local communities. By being designed to enhance people, community and place, tourism would necessarily break from the old volume-driven model that was putting many natural environments under <a href="https://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/196983/report-pristine-popular-imperilled.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">significant pressure</a> prior to the pandemic. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/455948/original/file-20220403-61039-4aohcx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>Helicopter sightseeing in the Southern Alps: more than one definition of ‘high value’. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Time for a reset Of course, it is one thing to suggest that tourism respect the wairua (spirit) of the land, and quite another to put the legislative and regulatory frameworks around a pathway to sustainability. To a degree this is beginning to happen already. For example, following concerns about a promised crackdown on freedom camping, the minister stepped back from banning vans that weren’t self-contained. However, proposed <a href="https://www.mbie.govt.nz/immigration-and-tourism/tourism/tourism-projects/responsible-camping/freedom-camping-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policy changes</a> will go to select committee this year, with new rules to be rolled out gradually from next summer. These should align with the <a href="https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/freedom-campers-welcome-right-vehicle-right-place" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minister’s view</a> that “… at the heart of the new law will be greater respect for the environment and communities through a ‘right vehicle, right place’ approach” (with fines of up to NZ$1,000 for offenders). The challenge now is to broaden that vision beyond individual businesses, or pockets of concern such as freedom camping, to encompass the entire industry. Because there can be no better time than now for a values-based reset of New Zealand tourism.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/180298/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/regina-scheyvens-650907" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regina Scheyvens</a>, Professor of Development Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massey University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/apisalome-movono-1108178">Apisalome Movono</a>, Senior Lecturer in Development Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massey University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-borders-reopen-can-new-zealand-reset-from-high-volume-to-high-values-tourism-180298" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Aldi to drop luxe travel range in celebration of international borders reopening

International travel is finally back and ALDI is celebrating. For its upcoming Special Buys on April the 6th, ALDI will release a range of products for the “executive traveller”. ALDI said it was also launching the line to celebrate the reopening of New Zealand to Aussies on April the 12th, when we’ll be free to visit our Kiwi neighbours without having to quarantine on arrival. The range includes everything from packing pouches, laptop sleeves and executive backpacks with an internal USB charging port. ALDI will also release premium noise cancelling headphones with bluetooth, an overnight leather bag and a leather satchel or sling bag. ALDI is advising customers to check the Special Buys delay page to know if the items they want will be in stock. The full Executive Travel Special Buys range includes — Packing pouches — $8.99 A 3-pack of lightweight packing pouches with mesh panels for visibility, a two-way zipper opening and carry handles. Available in Black, Blue, Pink or White and sizes of 40cm x 30cm x 13cm, 30cm x 28cm x 13cm and 30cm x 21cm x 13cm Sukin travel pack — $11.99 The pack contains cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner and body wash all in 50ml sizes. Rechargeable batteries — $11.99 An eight-pack of AA or AAA ($1.50 per battery). Laptop sleeve — $19.99 Hard case with soft padded inner, fits most laptops up to 14” and available in Blue, Black, Pink or Grey Premium two-piece suitcase set — $99.99 Black with grey piping and comes with double spinner wheels, a TSA lock, an expandable main compartment (5cm). Premium carry on suitcase — $39.99 Black with grey piping and comes with double spinner wheels, TSA lock, and an expandable main compartment (4cm). Overnight leather bag — $89.99 Buffalo leather bag with easy carry handle, shoulder strap and a spacious interior compartment. Available in dark brown or vintage brown. Leather satchel or sling bag — $69.99 Assorted styles Executive backpack — $39.99 With internal USB charging port, a padded laptop/document sleeve and available in Classic Black, Classic Grey or Black Roll-top Style. Premium headphones — $69.99 Active noise cancelling, built-in microphone for calls, on-ear controls, bluetooth connectivity, up to 21 hours battery life, 40mm driver and includes premium carry case. Images: Aldi

Travel Tips

What happens to your money when borders close?

It’s probably on everybody’s bucket list to travel the world…or wherever they can afford. After two years of closed borders thanks to Covid, some individuals are still waiting for their refund for the trips that never happened. Australian owned and operated online travel company checkmyfares.com has recently come under fire for not refunding the money to their customers who weren’t able to travel. Jonathan Sanderson spent $3,200 on flights to Fiji and was unable to go due to the pandemic which saw Australia’s borders close. Almost two years since the borders shut, Mr Sanderson is still waiting for his money. "I want my refund and I want it now," he told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/travel-company-refuses-customers-holiday-their-refunds/aaf75d38-735a-483e-8a27-e1eeeabd74f1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "I think it's disgusting. I can't believe a company like this can operate in Australia and get away with it.” Fifi Sajuit was another customer waiting on $6,700 for a cancelled trip to Canada. She received confirmation from Air Canada that her tickets were refunded when in fact they weren’t. Ms Sajuit was eventually refunded most of her money after the episode aired, but she claims they “treated me really badly” every time she asked for it. Consumer advocate Adam Glezer slammed the company’s behaviour toward customers, saying money should always be given back “as soon as possible”. "You shouldn't be holding on to anyone's money for any lengthy period of time at all," he said. "If a travel agent of any kind receives money back, they should be giving it back as soon as possible." The company issued a statement to the program saying they had been working with clients non-stop throughout the pandemic. Image: Checkmyfares.com

Travel Trouble

Jacinda Ardern announces plan to reopen New Zealand

After months of being closed to locals stranded overseas, New Zealand is planning to reopen its borders. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern annouced the plan for New Zealand citizens to return home in a speech on Thursday, and detailed a new scheme to reconnect the country to the rest of the world. New Zealanders who have been stranded in Australia will be able to return home form February 27th, while citizens suck in other parts of the world will have to wait until March 13th.The country still boasts strict border policies, with residents located across the world have been forced to enter a lottery system to gain a place in New Zealand's hotel quarantine system. However, Ms Ardern said the stringent policies would now change. "The tools we used yesterday to help battle this health crisis, they won't stay the same," she said. She said there was "no question" the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system "has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic".From the end of the month, returning New Zealanders will be allowed to isolate at home instead of facing an overcrowded hotel quarantine system. While this new rule only applies to New Zealand citizens, it is expected Australian tourists and travellers from visa-waiver countries will be allowed in under similar conditions "no later than" July. Visa holders, including international students and migrant workers, will be allowed in and to isolate at home from mid-April. Non-visa holders can expect to enter New Zealand in October. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

Damning full-page ad slams Ardern’s border policy

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jacinda-ardern-popularity-plunges-as-kiwis-struggle-to-return-home/e350bbd6-907c-4bd9-be82-63037dc52269" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openly criticised</a> in a full-page ad regarding the country’s strict border policy, after news emerged of a pregnant New Zealand journalist fighting to return home to give birth.The advertisement, taken out by prominent businessman Michael Horton in one of New Zealand’s most widely-read magazines, claimed that New Zealand was one of the few countries not allowing its citizens to return home.Under the headline, “The following countries do not ban their own citizens from returning to their home country”, the ad listed dozens of countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This ad, sponsored by Michael Horton, appears in the January 29 <a href="https://twitter.com/nzlistener?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nzlistener</a>. Thank you Michael. <a href="https://twitter.com/nzgovt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nzgovt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/govtnz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@govtnz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jacindaardern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jacindaardern</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZGTW2iFHUr">pic.twitter.com/ZGTW2iFHUr</a>— Graeme Jennings (@Graeme_rj) <a href="https://twitter.com/Graeme_rj/status/1484343384357494786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2022</a></blockquote>Above it, another headline read, “The following countries effectively ban their own citizens from returning to their home country”, with New Zealand as the only country listed.The ad comes as Charlotte Bell, a 35-year-old journalist who was working in Qatar for Al Jazeera until recently, remains stranded in Afghanistan, despite being triple-vaccinated and ready to isolate upon her return to her home country.Kiwis looking to return home are required to secure a place in government-run quarantine, through a system called Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ).According to the MIQ website, travellers are advised to book their place in MIQ - with spots gradually released in the months prior to flight arrivals - before booking their flights.“In periods of high demand, some people will miss out on securing an MIQ voucher, regardless of the system that is used,” the website reads.As a result of the high demand for the 4500 available spots, thousands of New Zealanders have been unable to return home in time to be with dying family members or be present for milestone moments.The system, which used a weekly lottery system to allocate vouchers until early January, has been fully booked out for months in advance which has also meant that impromptu travel or returning for emergencies - such as in Ms Bell’s case - remains virtually impossible. Ms Bell published an open letter in <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-charlotte-bellis-an-open-letter-on-miq/U4WQGYTJHUP36AGVOBN3F6PJSE/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New Zealand Herald</a> over the weekend detailing how she was forced to seek refuge in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, after she was no longer able to work in Qatar because it is illegal to be pregnant and unmarried there.<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZSRlVysIQF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"> </div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"> </div><div style="height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px"><div style="color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"> </div><div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"> </div></div><a style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZSRlVysIQF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Charlotte Bellis (@charlottebellis)</a></div></blockquote>“This is ridiculous. It is my legal right to go to New Zealand, where I have healthcare, where I have family. All my support is there,” she <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/from-kabul-pregnant-reporter-fights-nz-govt-to-come-home/94ed99be-8bbf-4ed0-a0f3-10a77e52ff84" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.Ms Bell first attempted to secure residency in Belgium - where her partner is from - but said the length of the process meant she would have been left in the country with an expired visa.With the option to either hop from country to country on tourist visas or attempt to secure a more long-term stay while she fought to return home, Ms Bell and her partner returned to Afghanistan because they had a visa, felt welcome, and could continue their battle there.Critics like Mr Horton have claimed the lottery system is a needlessly punishing process as more than 90 percent of the country’s population have been fully vaccinated and boosters continue to be administered.Meanwhile, Ms Ardern’s approval ratings have taken a hit, with a recent 1 News Kantor poll indicating that her current approval rate sits at just 35 percent, the lowest it’s been since she became Prime Minister in 2017.Image: @charlottebellis (Instagram)

Travel Trouble

COVID travel restrictions have created new borders for migrants who want to visit home

In the early days of the pandemic, many countries closed their borders to stop the spread of COVID-19. International travel has continued to be limited with <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52544307">changing caveats</a>, including “essential” travel only, restrictions on travellers from particular countries and vaccination “passports”. While a necessary public health measure, these restrictions have been especially disruptive to migrant families. For these families, travel is a necessary part of fulfilling <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15350770.2020.1787035">familial obligations</a> and maintaining a sense of “<a href="https://www.lexico.com/definition/familyhood">familyhood</a>” and belonging across borders. These policies present a new layer of “everyday bordering” for transnational families. The term “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0038038517702599">everyday bordering</a>” describes how policy and media narratives around migration affect migrants’ everyday lives and define who “belongs” in a nation state. In the UK, these borders amplify the state’s “<a href="https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained">hostile environment</a>”, the Home Office’s immigration policy, aimed at making it as difficult as possible to stay in the UK without adequate documentation. For migrants, their country of origin represents <a href="https://www.movingpeoplechangingplaces.org/locations/home-and-away.html">home</a> and family. Visiting home is important to many people’s wellbeing and allows migrants to be part of <a href="https://www.expatica.com/living/family/family-rituals-442783/">family traditions</a> and religious and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-09/how-china-s-big-annual-migration-differs-this-year-quicktake">cultural festivals</a>. Travel may also be necessary to fulfil caring obligations for ageing, sick or young relatives. Pandemic aside, the ability to visit home and family has always been constrained by a number of factors, including migration status and travel costs. The impact of these everyday borders on some migrants’ lives has been <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Addressing-the-pain-of-separation-for-refugee-families.pdf">well-documented</a>. The introduction of COVID-19 travel restrictions has inhibited and added costly and complex border checks into the everyday lives of migrants. This is at a time when the need to maintain transnational family caring practices is particularly important. <h2>Everyday borders</h2> Our fieldwork for the study <a href="https://everydaybordering-familiesandsocialcare.group.shef.ac.uk/">“Everyday Bordering in the UK”</a> aims to understand how immigration legislation – including COVID-19 travel restrictions – has impacted social care practitioners and the migrant families they support. Through interviews, diary entries and ethnographic observations, we explored how families from diverse migratory backgrounds experience everyday bordering. While transnational family practices were not our primary focus, our work has revealed the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions on transnational family life. This was also supported by our researcher’s own travel experiences when visiting family in Italy. Our research participants consistently discussed and wrote about their family members who do not live in the UK and expressed feeling responsible for their care. This demonstrates how important it is for family members to be able to travel in order to provide care. Some expressed remorse at being unable to travel historically, due to restrictive visa conditions or prohibitive flight costs. Interviews and ethnographic observations from online English language classes also reveal the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions on fulfilling care practices. One couple from Poland –- whom we call Krystyna and Henryk –- now living in the UK, describe the disruption caused by such restrictions. In March 2020, Krystyna was visiting Poland to help her parents with her ageing grandparents, when travel was first inhibited. She was unable to return to her partner in the UK due to flight cancellations. During this time, Henryk described being “depressed” and alone, saying, "My family isn’t here because they are in Poland, so I spent a few days in bed […] it was a very bad experience in my life." While commercial flights were not available at that time, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52098067">chartered flights</a> returned many citizens back to their home countries from work or holiday. But these flights did not take into account those in Krystyna’s position – as a Polish citizen – and their transnational caring responsibilities, which are now divided between two countries. <h2>Essential travel</h2> Now that many countries have reopened their borders for travel, governments and airlines have implemented a series of measures and checks to contain the virus. Examples include <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en">the EU green pass</a>, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk">the UK’s passenger locator form</a>, evidence of testing negative for COVID-19 and compulsory quarantine in hotels. These can be costly and hard to access, as our researcher noted in her own experience, "After not seeing my family for over one year, including my mum with a severe disability, we decided to fly to Italy. For the trip, we needed four tests, costing … £160 per person. Italy required a 48-hour test, and not a postal test. For a person living in London there were more, cheaper options but not for people in rural areas. In Italy, we also had to isolate for five days and get a further green pass to access public spaces." For two participants in the English language class, despite wanting to visit their mothers in Turkey and India, these measures were so costly and “complicated” that they said they “didn’t bother to ask for permission”. They realised it would be too difficult to travel, and they cancelled their plans to visit their families. The global emergency of COVID-19 has presented many challenges for governments, and has emphasised the differing needs of populations, including those who are marginalised. Since the initial peak of the crisis in early 2020, many countries, the UK included, permitted carers to move between different households to provide care. While international travel restrictions are an important feature of public health responses, in the context of this health crises, migrant families’ need to travel should also be recognised. Health-related boarding requirements should, we believe, be removed in a timely manner, but governments can do more to support migrant families in the short term. If we consider differing regulations between countries, the current system is too complex, costly and contradictory. There is a need for international agreements to standardise the documentation required to travel and make processes more streamlined and accessible. Image credits: Getty Images This image originally appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/covid-travel-restrictions-have-created-new-borders-for-migrants-who-want-to-visit-home-171461" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Travel Tips

Joyous scenes at reopened Queensland border

Image: Sunrise For the first time in 229 days, Queensland has reopened its borders allowing friends and families to reunite just in time for Christmas. The sunshine state dropped entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers who can provider a negative COVID-19 test arriving from both road and air at 1 am on Monday. There were emotional scenes at Gold Coast airport as the first flight into the state, Jetstar flight JQ400 shortly after 6AM (local time), landed carrying hundreds of passengers from Sydney. Friends and families hugged and cried after seeing each other in person for the first time in months. There was an increased police presence at border checkpoints located at Queensland’s Road border, with officers making sure all travellers are following the rules. Police are doing compliance and border pass checks, with motorists warned to expect lengthy delays. “The current situation for COVID on the Gold Coast is one that we’ve been preparing for, for two years,” District Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said on Friday. “We are prepared and we are ready to deal with this and keep our community safe as we’ve done over the last nearly two years,” The rules differ depending on where travellers are arriving from. Those who have been in a ‘hotspot’ such as Sydney and Melbourne within the last 14 days must be fully vaccinated, must have an entry pass, along with a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival and they must agree to get another test on day five following their arrival. However, those who are not fully vaccinated will need to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine upon arrival into the sunshine state. For those entering Queensland from a ‘green zone’, an area that is not declared as a hotspot, there are no restrictions upon entry, provided you receive a border entry pass prior to arrival. You must apply for and receive an entry pass to enter Queensland from anywhere in Australia, including from within green zones. Residents living in the declared 'border zone’ will be able to move freely across the border provided they are vaccinated and have a valid border pass. Australian citizens or permanent residents – or immediate family members can arrive directly into Queensland via Brisbane International Airport. You must be fully vaccinated and have a negative result within 72 hours before departure. Home quarantine must be conducted within a two-hour drive of the airport. Anyone else in the property at the time must also complete quarantine and have at least one dose of a vaccine. If you are arriving from overseas via another state or territory you must be fully vaccinated and undertake the Queensland-specified period of quarantine under the direction of another state or territory at home or in a government-nominated facility. If you arrive into Australia via an interstate COVID-19 hotspot, you’ll need to complete 14 days of hotel quarantine when you arrive in Queensland. “Well done to Queensland ... Thank you to everyone who got their jab,” Scott Morrison tweeted. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Well done to Queensland and the NT! Confirming you’ve officially hit 80% double dose vaccination, the target in our National Plan. Thank you to everyone who got their jab. Please get your booster if you’re due and help Australia continue to safely reopen and stay safely open. — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1468696646242365443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2021</a></blockquote> Queensland has also unveiled plans to reduce quarantine requirements for contacts of known COVID-19 cases and cleaning requirements for businesses. From 1st January, 2022, there are a number of eased COVID-19 contact restrictions. Queensland’s New Covid-19 rules Vaccinated Close Contacts <ul> <li>Home quarantine for seven days and get tests on days one and five</li> <li>Can leave quarantine if they test negative on day five</li> <li>Wear a face mask and don’t visit high-risk settings until day 14</li> </ul> Unvaccinated Close Contacts <ul> <li>Home quarantine for 14 days and get tested on days one, five and 12</li> <li>Fully vaccinated household contacts of close contacts</li> <li>No quarantine, but get tested on days one and five</li> </ul> Unvaccinated Household Contacts of Close Contacts <ul> <li>Home quarantine for seven days and get tests on days one and five</li> <li>If you test negative on day five leave quarantine</li> <li>Wear a face mask and don’t visit high-risk settings until day 14</li> </ul> Casual Contacts <ul> <li>No quarantine required but must get tested immediately and isolate until they get a negative result, wearing a face mask outside home recommended for 14 days</li> <li>Businesses that are visited by active COVID-19 cases and listed as exposure sites</li> <li>Close premises for a standard clean, but no deep-clean required</li> </ul> Definitions <ul> <li>A close contact is a anyone who’s had at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a COVID-19 case in the business or venues</li> <li>Vaccinated is anyone who is more than seven days after their first dose</li> <li>Household contacts are people residing in same dwelling overnight, including intimate partners</li> <li>Tests must be PCR tests</li> </ul>

News

Should I take a gift? As borders open, how to prepare for reuniting with your grandkids

As border restrictions lift, family reunions are being planned around Australia. This is an exciting but also uncertain time, particularly for grandparents who have been separated from grandchildren. Over the past months (and in some cases, years), grandchildren will have grown and changed. They may have new interests, routines and skills. You may even have the <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1474704919875948" target="_blank">transformative experience</a> of meeting a new grandchild for the very first time. With older grandchildren, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/grandparent-grandchildren-video-calls-are-vital-during-covid-19-here-are-simple-ways-to-improve-them-141534" target="_blank">digital technologies</a> may have kept you in contact and up-to-date. But with younger grandchildren, this is harder, and it may be time to rekindle relationships. We are researchers investigating the roles grandparents play and the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/21582041.2018.1433317" target="_blank">influence</a> this has on families and communities. So, how can grandparents make the most of this time? The special role of grandparents Due to increased lifespans, grandparents have more time and ability to invest in their grandchildren than <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721411403269" target="_blank">ever before</a> in human history. The grandparent-grandchild relationship can be a very special one. A grandparent’s involvement in a child’s life, whether through shared actives or a listening ear, is <a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2009.00215.x" target="_blank">linked</a> to the child’s well-being. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/429276/original/file-20211029-23-1y65rbj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents hug a baby." /> Researchers are finding increasing evidence of the importance of grandparent-grandchild relationships. Image: Shutterstock The benefits depend on your family situation, but can include improved psychological adjustment for <a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2011.00379.x" target="_blank">grandchildren</a>, increased <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S004727941700071X" target="_blank">workforce participation</a> for mothers, and a longer and happier life for <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513816300721" target="_blank">grandparents</a>. The importance of asking questions When preparing to see your grandchildren again, our first suggestion is to ask your grandchild’s parents what they think is a good idea for your first catch-up. What does your grandchild enjoy doing at the moment? What is their daily routine? Is there anything to avoid? If you are meeting a grandchild for the very first time, bear in mind the parents have gone through huge changes since you last met. As with older children, ask the parents what will suit them in terms of visit type and time. Be <a rel="noopener" href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/grandparents/family-relationships/being-a-grandparent" target="_blank">open and honest</a> about what support you think you can provide, and be aware the parents needs may change (they may want more or less help than they anticipated). When it comes to discussing the changes a new baby has brought, grandparents are trying to juggle in their mind the thrill of participating in their grandchild’s life, without disrupting or overstepping parents’ boundaries. From our yet to be published research, we understand this is not a simple matter for many families, but starting the conversation is important in maintaining these valuable relationships. Persistent, not pushy Your grandchildren may be feeling shy when you first meet. So even though this may have been a longed-for reunion, you may need to tread carefully. This is perfectly normal and can be overwhelming for everyone. Just take your time, and let them get to know you again. Your first instinct will be to catch up on the thousands of lost hugs, but it may work better stay close by and let them come to you. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428728/original/file-20211027-27-42qfit.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents playing with grandkids." /> With young children, you don’t have to plan something fancy for your first catch-up. Image: Shutterstock The good news for grandparents is that several research projects have shown what grandchildren <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.hoepflinger.com/fhtop/Grandchildren.pdf" target="_blank">really want</a> is simply for grandparents to be “there when needed”. So just “being there” – interested and available – for your first visit is perfectly fine. This helps reduce expectations of what you feel you need to do. Gifts Your first inclination may be to bring something exciting to play with together. But on top of seeing each other again, rushing in with a new treat might be too much. You will need to read the room. Consider taking something small, or maybe you can keep something in the car and bring it out once everyone has warmed up. Parallel play Play is obviously central to children’s learning and experience. Early in life, however, this may mean playing alone, which may be confusing for some of us. A good way to work with this while rekindling your relationship is parallel play, particularly if a child is aged between two and five. Parallel play involves playing next to your grandchild and letting them come to you when they are ready. This is one way you might need to put the patience and persistence we discussed earlier into practice. Let grandchildren lead (within reason) In the same vein, don’t feel as though you need to take the lead when working out what to do with your grandchild, either. Or that your idea for reading a certain book or doing a particular puzzle is the one your grandchild will go with. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428727/original/file-20211027-15-34v14w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Grandparents push a grandchild on a swing." /> Seeing your grandchild again could be as simple as a walk to the park. Image: Shutterstock Often, seemingly simple activities like a walk to a park are the most rewarding. Here your grandchild has the opportunity to show you about their world and what they like to do on their terms. It is also a good way to see how your grandchild has grown and developed. We want to show our unconditional affection and love for our grandchildren, <a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038026120916104" target="_blank">this feels natural</a>, and we know it can be so valuable. But in the the early stages of getting to know each other again, don’t put pressure on you or them. Being available, interested, curious and patient is enough. Rebecca Bullingham, a masters student in medical and health science at Edith Cowan University, contributed to this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/169731/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-coall-408193" target="_blank">David Coall</a>, Senior Lecturer, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shantha-karthigesu-1284704" target="_blank">Shantha Karthigesu</a>, Teaching and Research Scholar, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank">Edith Cowan University</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/should-i-take-a-gift-as-borders-open-how-to-prepare-for-reuniting-with-your-grandkids-169731" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Relationships

Elderly man dies waiting for state borders to reopen

A man has died at a NSW caravan park while waiting for the Queensland border to reopen so he could be reunited with his son. The 78-year-old man had been living with his wife and daughter in the northern NSW town of Tenterfield for 14 weeks before his sudden death. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.couriermail.com.au" target="_blank">The Courier Mail</a> reports that the family had been trying to relocate to the Southern Downs region of Queensland to live with their son. However, as Queensland's tough border rules remain in place, the family stayed in Tenterfield: 50km from their destination. NSW Police confirmed that emergency services were called to the caravan park in Tenterfield on November 22nd, following reports of a man suffering a medical episode. Members of the public started CPR on the man, but could not be revived once paramedics arrived and he died at the scene. Following news of the man's death, his wife and daughter he was living with were both granted an exemption to be with their remaining family in Queensland. It has been reported that the man had applied for a border exemption in early November, but he later withdrew the exemption request for an unknown reason. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/travelling-to-queensland" target="_blank">QLD Government Health website</a>, to enter the state you must apply for a Queensland Entry Pass and produce a negative Covid PCR test, which costs approximately $200. According to other residents of the caravan park, the elderly man was "very stressed" at the thought of having to pay for the test done to enter Queensland. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

"That's disgusting": Karl slams Queensland quarantine rules

Karl Stefanovic has slammed the Queensland government's Covid-19 quarantine rules after a six-year-old with cerebral palsy is stuck in Sydney. Lenny Silveira and his father Fabio are staying in a Sydney hotel after not being able to return to their home on the Sunshine Coast. The father and son travelled to the US for life-saving brain surgery for Lenny that is not currently available in Australia. After flying the US back to Sydney, the six-year-old was denied an exemption by Queensland Health to be reunited with his mum and three siblings by quarantining at home, which goes against doctor's orders for Lenny's recovery. Lenny and Fabio were denied the exemption because their flight landed in Sydney, as there are currently no direct flights from the US to Brisbane. After Fabio shared his son's story on Today, Karl expressed his fury at the situation, describing the Queensland governments response to the sick child as "awful". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "I understand the seriousness of this situation but we are talking about a six-year-old boy." Queensland Health has denied a Sunshine Coast boy with cerebral palsy an exemption to quarantine at home after undergoing major brain surgery in the U.S. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/zQ7zHLR7EK">pic.twitter.com/zQ7zHLR7EK</a> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1448025093360193540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> "Just have a look at that child there with cerebral palsy, in a hotel quarantine," Stefanovic fumed. "That is disgusting. I mean, if we can't make allowances for that kind of thing in this country, I don't know what has happened to this country." "The Queensland Government needs to look at that and fix it straightaway," he said. Lenny's father Fabio, who left his wife and other children in the Sunshine Coast to travel with Lenny, said their journey has been very difficult. "Our tickets were cancelled. So for three weeks we stay in a drama, not knowing if we will be able to make it back home for Christmas as thousands of Australians are stranded overseas." He said, "We made it back last Friday, but then we hit a wall with Queensland Health exemption denying us entry in Queensland because we arrived in Sydney." "So we got caught in the middle of the NSW-Queensland Health departments that have extremely difficult to talk to each other, leaving Lenny caught in the middle." Image credits: Today - Channel Nine

Caring

Possible jail time for border jumpers who snuck into AFL Grand Final

Two Melbourne socialites have been arrested in Western Australia following a state-wide manhunt on Monday night, with the pair facing accusations of sneaking into Perth for the AFL Grand Final. The Melbourne Demons fans came from Victoria - which is currently battling through a wave of COVID infections - and have been charged with failure to comply with directions. Hayden Burbank and Mark Babbage were found near Margaret River on Tuesday and have been arrested over claims they’ve broken COVID-19 rules in three states. Burbank first came to the attention of police after being spotted in a photo of the grand final on AFL’s official Instagram account. <img style="width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844460/demons-afl.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7ace81cbd1d84aa7914feabe319a7ddc" /> Hayden Burbank (left) spotted celebrating with Demons players. Image: Channel 7 The men were seen laughing, shaking hands, and posing for photos with Demons players and the coach. One has returned a negative COVID-19 test result, while the second man’s result was inconclusive, prompting a second test on Tuesday night. Health protocols are being put in place in the areas where the pair were following their arrival in WA. Police allege the pair left Melbourne on September 14, stayed in Darwin, and then flew to Perth on September 22. The men allegedly falsified their application for G2G passes to enter WA, after providing Northern Territory driver’s licence papers and other supporting documentation. Since the Northern Territory is classified as a low-risk border, no exemption was needed. But, WA Police now allege the driver’s licence papers were false. Police received an anonymous tip-off on September 27 that the men were in Victoria 14 days before their arrival in WA. <img style="width: 500px; height: 312.3076923076923px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844461/demons-afl2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8d77551100864fc290195a68ce2aeac2" /> The two men were spotted celebrating at the AFL Grand Final. Image: 7NEWS The authorities also claim the pair didn’t complete a full 14-day quarantine after travelling from Melbourne. “To say this is a disappointment is an understatement,” WA vaccine commissioner Chris Dawson said. “How people can knowingly put people at risk in these times is selfish and contemptible.” Both men will appear in a Perth court on Wednesday, facing a maximum penalty of $50,000 or 12 months jail if found guilty of COVID breach charges. Northern Territory Police have said regional Victoria was not a hotspot at the time the men arrived in Darwin, but that they are investigating the information the two men provided when they entered the NT. Image: @afl / Instagram

Travel Trouble

HERE WE GO! Qantas confirms 2021 international travel dates

Qantas has confirmed the exact dates when international flights will resume for Aussies to select destinations. A Qantas spokesperson revealed to <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/qantas-confirms-travel-dates-us-uk-japan-011349105.html" target="_blank">Yahoo Finance</a> that the airline has scheduled flights to London, Vancouver, Singapore and Los Angeles to begin on December 18th 2021. In addition to these locations, Aussies will also be able to travel to Fiji and Tokyo from December 19th 2021. This is the most concrete confirmation from the airline of overseas travel dates, less than one month after Qantas chief Alan Joyce revealed that he expected some flight to resume from "mid-December". The overseas flights will be taking off from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane international airports once borders reopen. The confirmation comes from Qantas just hours after Air Canada announced that it will resume the Sydney-Vancouver route from December 17th, as travel industries remain optimistic about the possibility of the travel ban being lifted. While many Aussies are excited about the prospect of overseas travel, there is a catch. Qantas released a statement on September 9th saying they will require all overseas passengers to be fully vaccinated with one of the available COVID-19 jabs. As well as all Qantas employees adhering to mandatory vaccine rules, the airline will require passengers to declare their vaccination status before boarding an aircraft. The Australian Federal Government is developing a digital border pass for international travellers called the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD), which will apply to all passengers leaving and entering Australia. Qantas have been strongly encouraging Aussies to get the jab with enticing rewards programs, with vaccinated passengers eligible to win Qantas points or money off their next flight. In conjunction with these rewards, the airline released an emotional advertisement, urging all Aussies to get the jab in order to reunite with loved ones around the world. Check out the video here: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4o9_AK1Kcyo" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credit: Getty Images

International Travel

Fiji announces plan to open borders to tourists by November

A pacific island getaway has been out of reach for Australians since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that might all chance in just a few short months. In the midst of battling a COVID-19 outbreak, Fiji announces plans to reopen borders to tourists by the 1st of November. By then the government expects to have fully vaccinated at least 80 per cent of its eligible population, and believes it can safely start to welcome international visitors once again. Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said he was confident the country could reach the vaccination target rates in time – but encouraged visitors to seek travel insurance in case they were forced to quarantine. “They key thing is, if you’ve got a really strong level of local vaccination, coupled with only accepting fully vaccinated travellers who test negative before they get on the plane, then you’re dramatically reducing the risk” Mr Hill said. “Everybody’s really keen to get things back up and running and started again, and Fiji is ready and waiting for tourists”. Australian airline Qantas has already started advertising December flights to Fiji and other “Covid safe destinations”, anticipating Australia will also have opened its borders by then. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said he had been in talks with the federal government about the resumption of flights, and countries with “similar vaccination levels” of 70 to 80 per cent would be possible destinations. “We think everything should be ready and certainly should .. have a firm plan by the end of the year”, he said. Fiji is finalising its program, with James Fong, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, saying the government is considering a “corridor” within which fully vaccinated tourists and Fijians can operate. “What has to happen, together with opening the international boarders, is a heightened level of community surveillance” Dr Fong says. Tourism Fiji says only countries that allow quarantine free travel will be allowed to visit – although Fiji hasn’t conquered its COVID-19 outbreak yet. At its peak in July, Fiji’s infection rate was the highest per capita in the world. Though some case numbers have dropped since then, there are currently more than 13,000 active cases in the country, including at least 100 people still in hospital. A vigorous vaccination campaign, which has included controversial “no jab, no job” measures, has led to more than 90 per cent of Fiji’s target population receiving at least one dose of AstraZeneca or Moderna. Mr Hill said the success of Fiji’s vaccination drive had given the country confidence to reopen in November, even though community transmission was still present. “I think we’re being as prudent and careful as we possibly can be” Mr Hill said. Not everyone shares that confidence. Sashi Kiran, the founder and CEO of a grassroots NGO called the Foundation for Rural, integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND), has been helping vulnerable families during the pandemic. She is particularly concerned that the under-18s, who make up one-third of Fiji’s population, are still not vaccinated. “I’m not sure whether having a large proportion of adult people vaccinated is the reason to rush into opening our borders and risking probably much more than we gain” she said. “It’s certainly too soon [to reopen], unless our children are vaccinated, and unless we know more about the new variants, that could be coming in from different tourism markets”. Dr Fong said the government hoped to vaccinate children, but that it could be “a big exercise” and might take months to accomplish. Tourism is Fiji’s largest industry, and before the pandemic it was responsible for at least 40 per cent of Fiji’s GDP. Closure of international borders has left many families struggling to earn an income. Sisters Kalesi and Luisa Kuilau are from a village near the capital Suva, and weave traditional fans and jewellery which they sell at hotels and local markets. With tourism drying up they’ve struggled to find customers and are excited that the Fiji borders will be open once again. “We love Australians coming to Fiji” Kalesi said. “We’re really happy to be opening soon, that is the only way we can market our product outside of Fiji”. “And then our business will be stable again like before, the normal way it was” added Luisa. It is estimated as many as 100,000 people have been left unemployed after the Fijian government closed borders in March 2020 – about one in every nine Fijians. Christopher Southwick, owner of Royal Davui island resort, said the past 18 months had been tough for his business. “The most challenging part of the last two years has been the unknown” he said. Mr Southwick is training his staff to practice COVID-safe measures once tourists are welcome back to the resort. He is optimistic the worst of the pandemic will soon be behind Fiji. “Four months ago it looked absolutely hopeless, but it does get better”.

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