After two long years, Australia is finally opening its borders for tourism again

Australia will begin welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers and other visitors who are fully vaccinated visa holders as of Feb. 21, 2022.

In a joint statement, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP and the Hon. Dan Tehan MP indicated that “these changes will ensure we protect the health of Australians, while we continue to secure our economic recovery.”

They pointed out that Australia’s health system has demonstrated its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including though the recent Omicron wave. With improving health conditions, including a recent 23% decline in hospitalizations due to COVID, the National Security Committee of Cabinet today agreed Australia is ready to further progress the staged reopening of our international border.

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.

They also noted that the Feb. 7, 2022 announcement “will give certainty to our vital tourism industry, and allow them to start planning, hiring and preparing for our reopening. In 2018-19, tourism generated more than $60 billion for the Australian economy, with more than 660,000 jobs dependent on the industry.

Since the Morrison Government commenced Australia’s staged international border reopening on 1 November 2021 we have seen almost 580,000 arrivals come to Australia including to reunite with loved ones, work or study.”

Earlier this month, New Zealand announced that it will be reopening its borders using a five-step plan that will see it fully open by October of 2022.

THE BEST OF “Bubble Travel”

QUESTION:

What’s better than spending time with your family-and-friend bubble in Muskoka?

ANSWER:

Taking the Holiday of a lifetime with your bubble to that bucket-list destination you have always dreamed about!

The term “bubble travel,” referring to travellers who want the safety and security of travelling within their own trusted circle of family and friends, may have emerged from pandemic life, but Goway Travel, one of North America’s most experienced travel companies, has been specializing in private guided journeys, personalized vacations, and tailor-made tours to exotic destinations for more than 50 years.  

“My best ever vacations have been with our family and close friends,” says Bruce Hodge, founder and president of Goway Travel. “When our children were teenagers, we did a private-guided, personalized safari with friends – just us, our two families – in Botswana. It was magical. Then there was the private villa in Tuscany, the jungles of Ecuador combined with a Galapagos cruise, and a river cruise in Myanmar where we were swarmed by locusts one evening. Just a few of the wonderful places and interesting experiences we have been fortunate to share with family and friends.” 

After more than a year of lockdown and with an end to travel restrictions in sight, isn’t it time to start planning your ultimate pandemic payback trip? Well, when you’re ready to travel again, Goway is ready to help. Contact your favourite travel professional or a Destination Specialist at Goway (1-800-387-8850 or [email protected]) and be sure to mention “Muskoka challenge.” 

GET INSPIRED

Looking for a little inspiration? Visit goway.com for a list of all the world-wide destinations Goway offers. In the meantime, here are a few of our top travel ideas to whet your appetite for travel: 

DESTINATIONS TO BRAG ABOUT

Like Easter Island, Chile; Papua New Guinea; Arnhemland, Australia; Komodo Island, Indonesia; and Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda.

ULTIMATE ISLANDS ESCAPES

To Tahiti, the Maldives, Bali, or the Greek islands.

BOUTIQUE & PRIVATE CRUISING

In the Fiji islands, Dalmatian Coast, Croatia, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, or the Galapagos Islands.

PRIVATE LUXURY SAFARIS

In east and southern Africa, in Australia’s Outback, or across India.

DIFFERENT RIVER CRUISES

On the Amazon, Mekong, and River Nile by Dahabiya.

LUXURY & UNIQUE TRAIN JOURNEYS

On the Venice Simplon Orient Express, Eastern & Oriental Express, Tsar’s Gold Trans Siberia, Pride of Africa, and the Indian Pacific.

MEET BRUCE!

Bruce, a young research economist from Australia, became a tour guide in Europe, where he met his future wife, Claire, from South Africa – soon after (1970), they immigrated to Canada and started Goway Travel. One of their ultimate highlight trips was personally escorting a 30-day luxury Cape-to-Cairo journey in 2016. The Hodge family owns a cottage on Lake Rosseau.

The World’s 17 Best Beaches

From remote stretches of sand in far-flung locales to the ever-popular Caribbean getaways, there is a bounty of spectacular places for travellers to soak up the sun, whether they seek white, pink or even black  sand. So, where should you plan your beach escape for next winter? Why not try one of the top 17 beaches in the world as voted by the experts, Canadian travel agents.

1. VARADERO BEACH, CUBA Overwhelmingly popular, Cuba’s Varadero Beach is ranked one of the absolute best. With its icing sugar sand, Varadero Beach is often described as the softest, whitest, cleanest beach.
2. GRACE BAY BEACH, TURKS AND CAICOS Photo Courtesy of Turks & Caicos Tourist Board
3. SEVEN MILE BEACH, NEGRIL, JAMAICA While it may actually only measure 6.3 miles, Negril's Seven Mile Beach still measures up as one of the top beaches in the world. With world-class sunsets, white sands, and warm waters, it's no wonder this stretch of beach is nicknamed “seven miles of heaven.” Photo Courtesy of Couples Resorts Jamaica
4. BLACK SAND BEACH (PA’ILOA), WAI’ANAPANAPA STATE PARK AND KAANAPALI BEACH, HAWAII
5. PUNTA MAROMA, MEXICO
6. Bavaro Beach DOMINICAN Courtesy of Barcelo Hotel & Resorts
7. CABLE BEACH, BAHAMAS Photo Courtesy of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Located in Nassau, Bahamas, travellers love the Cable Beach area for its beautiful beaches and snorkelling. Many resorts and intimate hideaways are beachfront or just a short stroll away, but no matter where you’re staying in Nassau Paradise Island, you're mere minutes from wiggling your toes in the sand and frolicking in warm, multi-hued azure waters stretching as far as the eye can see.
8. MATIRA BEACH, BORA BORA, FRENCH POLYNESIA Photo by Marc Gérard
9. SIESTA KEY AND ST. PETE BEACH
10. PATONG BEACH, PHUKET AND RAILAY BEACH, KRABI, THAILAND Photo Courtesy of Tourism Authority of Thailand
11. SEVEN MILE BEACH, GRAND CAYMAN The Cayman Islands, a peaceful British Overseas Territory, is packed with endless activities, the ultimate culinary scene, and, of course, the renowned Seven Mile Beach. It's the perfect spot to stroll miles of warm powdery white sand, relax under a swaying palm tree, or dive into calm crystal-clear waters. This is paradise.
12. EAGLE BEACH, ARUBA Photo Courtesy of Aruba Tourism Authority
13. WHITEHAVEN BEACH, AUSTRALIA Photo Courtesy of Day Dream Island
14. MAGENS BAY AND TRUNK BAY, USVI
15. THE BEACHES OF AITUTAKI AND RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS Photo Courtesy of Paul Gauguin Cruises
16. CRANE BEACH, BARBADOS A perennial favourite of “best beaches” lists, Crane Beach, Barbados feels secluded, with towering cliffs to one side, and protected by natural coral reef. Picture-perfect pink sand, close proximity to the airport, and amenities of the nearby The Crane Resort, make this beach a stand-out.
17. HORSESHOE BAY, BERMUDA