Over Sixty Winter 2022 Digital

OVERSIXTY.COM.AU | WINTER 2022 35 DAVID LEVELL PLAN A ustralians have long been known as great travellers. But our enthusiastic globetrotting came to a sudden halt when the pandemic hit in March 2020 – suddenly no one was going anywhere. Two years on, 2022 has seen a global reopening of borders and easing of restrictions, as the world shifts towards living alongside Covid-19. Travel is back, but not quite travel as we knew it. Preparation and patience – always advis- able for any overseas jaunt – are now as vital as a passport. Expect queues and delays, especially at airports mired in enhanced checking procedures. And Covid-related staff shortages can strike anywhere, anytime – hotels, museums, restaurants; you name it. This is the new normal, at least for now, but it doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. Surveys by Tourism Australia reveal a rising national optimism, with big recent increases in those ‘considering’ and ‘keen to travel as soon as possible’. Domestictravelbegan–andleads–recovery. The Whitsunday Islands are a case in point, greeting domestic visitors in record numbers during the international visitor moratorium, a 25.4% increase from2019 to 2021. State border closures encouraged Australians to enjoy their home states like never before. Intrastate holidaying rose, and the trend continues. “Regions within driving range of the south-east Queensland population centres have had some of the most benefit,” says ShelleyWinkel of Tourism Queensland. Other states report a similar picture with getaways close to their capital cities. News Corps’ Travel Trend Forecast finds intrastate our top choice of holiday, with half those planning travel intending to do it in their home state, and increases in intention to take a local 1-2 night trip away. The upswing in domestic travel doesn’t mean we’ve lost our wanderlust for more exotic parts. For many, 2022 will be the year to catch up on missed overseas time. Market researcher IbisWorld forecasts an almost 600% increase in Australians flying overseas this year, a definite bounce-back although still about 18.5% below pre-pandemic departures. But the new normal, of course, means many new considerations. Research is key. Know the specific Covid test your destination country requires, and how – and when – proof must be furnished. Check how flight delays affect test deadlines. Vaccination usually means a full course (one or two shots, depending on the vaccine) excluding boosters – but make sure. Note these rules usually vary for children and those with medical conditions. All four vaccines used in Australia are generally accepted worldwide, but it’s not always so with our International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate, obtainable via Medicare. Portugal only accepts the EU Digital Certificate (Green Pass), though you can enter with a negative test result. France allows entry on the Australian certificate, but youmust then obtain a Vaccine Certificate of Equivalence from a pharmacy. Look closely at travel insurance. Know exactly what Covid-related coverage a policy provides – for many it’s nothing – such as cancelled bookings and medical expenses. Terms vary widely, and can be affected by government travel warnings. Consider budgeting for hotel isolation, extra PCR/RAT tests or changed travel dates if you catch the virus on holiday. Our Top 6 Destinations Here’s the state of play for jetting off to Australia’s top six international destinations. NEW ZEALAND re-opened to vaccinated Australians inmid-April. You’ll need to self-test on arrival and prove a negative pre-departure test – a PCRup to 48 hours before flying or RAT (or LAMP test) up to 24 hours before. INDONESIA , our number two thanks to Bali’s evergreen allure, requires vaccination proof plus a clear PCR test result within 48 hours of departure. Arrivals are screened TRAVEL IN 2022 Great expectations for body temperature; anyone above 37.5 degrees Celcius takes a PCR and must self- isolate pending a negative result. Temperature checks aside, the USA has similar entry rules – vaccination proof and a negative test (many types are acceptable) up to a day before travel. Anyone showing signs of illness may be arbitrarily denied entry. THAILAND accepts non-vaccinated visitors but they must quarantine for five days unless they have a negative RT-PCR test (not a standard PCR) within 72 hours of travel. Vaccinated arrivals don’t need to test or quarantine, but all tourists need to show $US10,000 minimum travel insurance covering Covid treatment. Upload your documents before flying via the online Thailand Pass system. (Fiji and Singapore also require Covid travel insurance.) CHINA quarantines all international visitors on arrival – 14 days at your expense. You’ll also need a negative Covid-19 test seven days before departure and a RAT on the day. In sharp contrast, the easygoing UK has no COVID-related entry rules at all – no tests, quarantine or vaccination requirements. EU members Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Czechia and Hungary have also dropped all restrictions for Australian visitors. However, risk of infection from Covid-19’s ever-multiplying variantsmeans all the usual precautions still apply on holiday. Masks in enclosed spaces or crowded situations, frequent handwashing and social distancing are recommended no matter how far you’ve roamed, or what rules exist. Although allowed to travel overseas, those five per cent of Australians not vaccinated are strongly discouraged by health and governmental authorities fromdoing so. Many airlines and cruise operators – Qantas and Jetstar among them – won’t fly unvaccinated adults. Visit smartraveller.gov.au for up-to-date overseastraveladviceincludinginternational Covid restrictions and entry requirements. Above: It’s important you know what to expect from your travel destination before booking your plane ticket Photo: Getty Images PLAN TRAVEL TALES: What’s the most beautiful place you’ve visited? Michelle Rolfe, Qld: Too many to name – from the stunning ocean in Cinque Terre, to the rolling hills of the Italian countryside, or the breathtaking scenery in NZ. Hazel Drummond, Vic: Have travelled well but my favourite is Venice – been twice and I would go again if possible. Dot Bawden, WA: I have travelled the world and think the most beautiful place is WA’s Mitchell Plateau. Deborah Joy Woolmer, NSW: Ha Long Bay and Hoi An, Vietnam, loved them, would go back in a heartbeat. Barbara Hendron, NSW: Haven’t been to many places but I loved the beauty of the rainforest in Alaska. Derice Harwood, WA: So many places, but the one place that has remained my favourite is Grenada, Spain. It is the one place that has held my heart for 50 years.