VANCOUVER — Anyone in Vancouver or Toronto this weekend is in for a real treat, courtesy of Tourism Australia.
To celebrate the reopening of its borders to international travellers after a near two-year closure, and to welcome back fully vaccinated Canadians without the need for quarantine, Tourism Australia will be activating a special projection installation in both Canadian cities.
Launched in collaboration with Air Canada, the mesmerizing experience will be displayed on various buildings in high-foot traffic areas on March 11 and March 12 from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Projections will be presented in a safe, socially-distant public setting.
Canadians who find the projections in either city will have the chance to win two Air Canada business class direct flights from Canada to Australia by scanning a QR code that will be projected alongside footage of Australian landscapes, wildlife and Indigenous culture.
“After two years of border closures and travel restrictions, Australia is excited to welcome back fully vaccinated Canadians,” said Tourism Australia Acting General Manager of North America, Chris Allison. “Our stunning projections are the perfect way to showcase the tourism opportunities in Australia and show Canadians what they have been missing.
“There is no doubt the last two years have been incredibly challenging, and many people had to put off taking holidays as a result. However, with travel back on the cards, now is the time for Canadians to think big, think Australia.”
Air Canada is resuming year-round services between Sydney, Australia and Vancouver. Currently at three weekly flights, service will ramp up to daily beginning May 1. The airline also offers year-round connecting flights from Toronto.
“With overall travel demand acceleration, our nonstop flights linking Australia and Canada will be of interest to Canadians eager to discover Australia’s renowned tourism,” said Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s Senior VP of Network Planning & Revenue Management.
“Sydney flights are also scheduled to connect easily to and from a myriad of flights across North America at our Vancouver hub, making it convenient to get Australia from anywhere across Canada. We look forward to welcoming Canadians onboard,” added Galardo.
In 2019, nearly 190,000 Canadian visitors arrived in Australia, making up 2% of all international arrivals. Total expenditure by Canadian travellers in Australia that year equated to almost $900 million.
TRAVELLING TO AUSTRALIA
- As of Feb. 21, 2022, visa holders who are fully vaccinated with two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccine can travel to Australia quarantine-free, without the need to apply for a travel exemption.
- To be eligible to enter Australia, international travellers must:
- Hold a valid Australian visa
- Be fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and provide proof of vaccination status.
- Present a negative rapid antigen test or PCR COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of departure (unless a medical exemption applies)
- As of Feb. 7, 2022, fully vaccinated visa holders can enter all states and territories quarantine-free from Feb. 21, 2022.
- Travellers will need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territories that they plan to travel to. Information on entry requirements is updated regularly so it is important to check the latest requirements before travelling. Travellers are also encouraged to check any requirements for stopover destinations that they are transitioning through.
- For requirements for travel into specific states and territories in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website | State and Territory Information.
- For more information on travelling to Australia, click here.
