So, I have been really bored lately - my boss also told me I need to take annual leave since I havent been taking a single day off since mid 2019 (not that we can go anywhere).
So, my question is when do you guys think we can travel overseas again (im thinking of japan).
** July 2021 **
** Dec 2021 **
** Dec 2022 **
I enjoyed it so much in October that I was going to book it again. I really should have gone a year prior. Seems 2022 will be the time.
I watched that same video. It was really interesting to see how many genuinely miss the tourists and the business they bring. I cancelled last minute a trip to Taiwan in March 2020 and have regrets for the same reason.
Yeah I cancelled my Japan trip in March 2020, really regret it now. Looking like mid-2022 at the earliest now. Crazy.
@Madrical: I don't mind the waiting so much, but know it was such a good opportunity to see the country without any other tourists (quite selfish thinking, but there you go).
Why not travel around your own state? There's a lot to be seen in WA, and I haven't even got there yet.
There are many people who would rather spend their hard earned money overseas compared to Australia. Not cheap travelling within Oz and there no variety when it comes to culture (No regional differences when it comes to culture)
Ah so you've explored all the Indigenous culture too then?
yeah, nothing like visiting Kalgoorlie and getting mugged.
I mean, it's not a bad point and Australia's Indigenous people could use the money from tourism. But it's not really the same thing as going to Japan, Vietnam, India, etc, where there is a culture with a complex and delicious food culture and well-preserved impressive buildings and an infrastructure that makes experiencing it all easy and (in some cases) cheap.
There are impressive things about indigenous culture, but you can't really see most of them or taste them, which is how we are used to experiencing these things.
When you look at the time, effort, and quality of exploring indigenous culture, its not worth it.
Its also fulled with stupid rules to ruin your fun.
I would rather take my tourist dollars somewhere that wants me.
Damn expensive. A friend of mine booked a holiday house and for only 2 night stays in Margaret River costed $3,800 during Christmas 2020. Ouch!
Find a new job. They will legally have to pay your entitlements when you go. Check your contract, usually it's a months notice. Only if you're fairly invaluable to them (they won't force you to take leave for the final month). But I wouldn't have any hesitation in standing up for your rights, particularly if they are trying to screw you. Enforced leave during a pandemic is outrageous.
Stand up for yourself and say you've been long planning a trip to Japan, and you're adamant you want to do it. Whether it's a year away or not - I don't think it's an unreasonable request.
And if they're not making enough money to cover liabilities, I'd question whether you should be working there at all.
It's not outrageous if it's the law. A liability is an employee who doesn't take time off for 2 years.
OP is in WA, probably in the best 1% of the world to be in in the past year. Lovely place for a staycation.
Covid is here to stay. The government will open the border when they run out of ink.
I’ve also been forced to take annual leave as well. It’s annoying but it is a liability for the company. I’m using it as a opportunity to do some travelling around Australia. You have your entire state to explore. Go to Margret River, Exmouth, a trip to Rottnest? If you haven’t been to Tassie, that is a great place for a road trip.
Yes, it is annoying not to be able to travel overseas but it will be at least at the end of the year to do so and it will be dependant on other countries rolling out the vaccine. I’m hoping to be able to book tickets for the end of this year but I think early next year is more realistic.
I doubt they’ll let you save anymore up. I’m like you I have heaps of leave and I don’t like using it for just a holiday at home but I ended up taking a week off and it was really good to just switch off and chill out, I also took the 2 weeks over Christmas and it felt good.
How much leave did you have when they forced you to take some?
Interstate travel seems a good option. Explore the tropical paradise around Cairns Port Douglas or northern NSW gold coast area.
Maybe travel bubble with NZ will open soon and you check that out.
Possibility of being stuck in quarantine remains ridiculously high. Both Sydney and Brisbane got neutered these holidays
First rule of politics … never waste a crisis.
O/S travel not happening for the foreseeable future.
I guess this is the Australian government's cunning plan to… bankrupt Qantas?
I think a lot of countries will not be opening for a long, long time.
I live in Vietnam and it would seem that the reality is; until Covid is eliminated, there will be no international tourists.
The country has privatised yet affordable healthcare and a miniscule amount of emergency beds, so the risk is far too high for many poorer developing nations to open their borders. These are countries who will probably be very late to receive access to the vaccine as they have not the wealth to pay for it.
Would love to have you all over, it is very dull working in hospitality on the beach with no tourists!
Where are you in Vietnam? I been based Vung Tau last seven years.
GF at uni there, training to be flight attendant.
Guess won’t be seeing her for awhile :(
My big guess, September this year, but only with a vaccine and still doing 2 weeks in a hotel upon return (you can still be a carrier)
Then 2022 will see specific countries being whitelisted based on how their vaccine rollout is going.
Also for everyone thinking people want to just travel overseas for tourism or instagram snaps, please think of the people who travel to visit family and friends.
I go to Jakarta every year to stay with my wifes family for Lunar new year and its the first time in her life she has not been there.
If 1,200+ FOREIGN tennis players and their entourage can come into Australia JUST to PLAY tennis … then practically regular Australians should be able to do the same.
With RAPID covid testing available now, even located inside some airports now and rolling out, why can't people test prior to boarding, test upon arrival and go into self quarantine upon arrival.
why can't people test prior to boarding
Yeah that worked really well with the tennis plane.
I gather you have not been watching the news of how badly the tennis quarantining and pre flight testing has gone. If the foreign tennis players are an example then we have no hope of our borders opening up soon.
you need more than just testing prior to boarding, you need many days of negative test results while quarantining before boarding. FYI, self quarantining has been proven as a dismal failure early on in the covid situation with huge numbers supposedly in self quarantining completely ignoring the requirement, this is partly why the mandatory quarantining was implemented as many people can't be trusted to self quarantine.
They bring 💵 into Australia which helps our GDP. Australians travelling overseas takes 💵 out of Australia. We don't want that.
Wasn't convinced at first then re-read and realised that RANDOM words were in CAPITALS
Now I'm not convinced but also worried about your mental health
Thailand for at least 3 months.
There is a special tourist visa and Aussie Gov will allow you to leave if it's for >3 months.
I reckon if Brendan Murphy had his way , the borders would never open.
I agree. Brendan Murphy is a pathetic figure.
"Pathetic figure?" I don't know who pissed in your Cornflakes this morning, but that's pretty disrespectful being directed at someone with such an accomplished career in medicine and public service.
I know someone whose life he saved following acute renal failure.
I suppose you'd respect him more if he lurked in comments sections online dropping snide remarks and dank memes instead of doing work of substance?
I get it. You enjoy getting on flying buses and going places. His thing is keeping people alive. His thing affected your thing and you feel sad.
IMO travelling is not a necessary thing to cure your boredom. Pick up some hobbies like sports, reading, gaming, etc. Also if you think about how much you spent on travelling, spending money on other hobbies is a good use of your money too since they're usually cheaper than travelling.
This coming from someone who does not like travelling, especially overseas.
I mean I have travelled and I liked it, but when it's not possible I just make the best out of it and do something else.
OP, annual leave taken the right way is also important to maintaining your health (mental and physical).
However, if you wish to maintain the leave for an overseas holiday (and no one blames you for thinking that way… that's my mentality most of the time), be sure to have a general itinerary ready (just minus dates of course). Depending on your workplace policies, if you have a big trip in mind and your management is willing to fight for you, they may put up a recommendation to corporate to allow you to accrue larger amounts of leave if your trip takes, say, 3 months. Something like an overland trip of the Silk Road.
This is obviously at the discretion of the organisation and their financial circumstances. The last private business I worked for mandated additional closure around xmas (where it was quiet anyway) so we had to use our annual leave them to help the business get through a tough financial patch. We all used it as a chance to re-energise before another tough year rebuilding the business which I believe was the right thing to do… but I couldn't accrue enough leave for a bigger holiday unfortunately.
Hasn't Qantas said they are starting international flights in March this year, provided all goes well? I think they said they will be flying to about 5 different countries of which one is Japan. I am sure google will be your friend in helping with finding out more :)
Get two passports. You can travel overseas. I left in April this year and went overseas. Returned in July. Total 4 weeks of quarantine. Hotel quarantine was lots of fun. Loved it.
Won't be so fun this time around when you'll have to pay for it.
That's true. Because I booked my return leg before the rule change in June I was fee exempt. But hey, it just becomes the cost of an overseas holiday. Meh.
I left in April this year
Are you a time traveller?
Yes. I am still living in 2020 - in a state of denial.
Start of travel Dec 2021, return to semi-normal is June 2022
OP: WA is bigger in size than all of Western Europe combined. Surely you can find something fun to do?
I mean, you'll find no culture, but at least some pretty beaches and old rocks and red dust to look at.
are you for real or sarcastic?
Depends on if you agree with the statement or are going to be a triggered sandgroper.
Haha, WA is the most boring state in Australia. Would rather save and go overseas instead.
WA is bigger in size than all of Western Europe combined.
Yes and most of it is uninhabited desert.
Have you been into the interior of WA? Once you've seen a flat, level plain of red sand or yellow sand as far as the eye can see, you've seen 80% of WA.
Source: Currently in WA. Yes, there are beautiful parts of the state to see but this whole fairy tale that WA is one of the best-kept secrets in tourism is cringey nonsense.
I suspect the international borders will re open later this year or next year.
It is pathetic of the federal government to ban Aussies from travelling overseas.
Australia is the only country in the world that strictly bans it's own citizens and PRs from going overseas.
To those who say that we should just travel within Australia, forget it.
Travelling within Australia is too expensive and boring (No regional differences in terms of culture, food and all the cities are similar ) Many smart Aussies would rather save and go overseas instead.
Plus there is the big risk of power hungry state premiers (ie. Victoria) suddenly shutting state borders. So no thanks to interstate travelling from this Victorian.
Australia hasn't "…strictly…" banned it's own citizens from going overseas.
You just need to apply for an exemption.
You probably won't get one, unless you are one of the elite (that don't also need to worry about quarantine etc. on their return).
But it isn't a blanket ban, it is just red tape.
I'm not so sure, this Government website calls it a ban. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/COVID-19
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
That is correct; it isn't a "strict" ban. Even the exemption is mentioned in the next sentence.
But it isn't a blanket ban, it is just red tape.
Lol. It's not a ban, it's just a procedure..
Doubleplusgood display of newspeak, comrade. 2 points have been added to your social credit score.
We're banned. Bury your head in the sand all you like but we're not young and free anymore.
I haven't said it is not a 'ban'. It is.
But it isn't a 'strict' ban. There are exemptions possible (and, obviously, if you are one of the elite it is easier to obtain an exemption).
@GG57: On average 1 in 5 applications have been approved since the ban was introduced in March 2020.
Countless stories online of families with dying relatives, separated newly-weds and babies, overseas business owners and even foreign visa holders with no means of supporting themselves in Australia being denied the right to travel; if those reasons don't meet their criteria, then it's safe to say traveling overseas for the purposes of tourism/recreation is outright banned.
@Miami Mall Alien: Yes, certainly those stories support the premise that it is a ban.
I haven't said it isn't.
Plenty of other examples where people have obtained exemptions, travelled, returned, etc.
So, again, it isn't a 'strict' ban.
@GG57: Sounds like someone's hooked on that cognitive dissonance hopium to me, but whatever.
Plenty of other examples where people have obtained exemptions, travelled, returned, etc.
Just because they have a technicality that may allow people to travel sometimes, doesn't mean that the measure itself isn't overwhelmingly harmful and there isn't a more malicious agenda at play.
It's about setting a precedent. The longer this stays in place, the more the basic human right of freedom of movement becomes a long-lost memory that people regard as a "privilege" to be rationed out by their government; and the more that creeping scope of authoritarianism spreads to other facets of everyday life. Checkpoints at state borders, passes to go into certain areas, presenting ID everywhere you go, etc.
All of this helps normalise what would otherwise be indefensible.
The same goes for the right to peaceful protesting/right of assembly which has been effectively outlawed in most Western nations.
@Miami Mall Alien: I reckon not having plague-infected people crossing our borders willy-nilly is a fine thing overall - and most Australians would agree with me.
I miss overseas travel, too. But I don't mind being inconvenienced if it means we're not stacking up bodies outside hospitals.
It sounds like you don't like this country much. Have you considered moving elsewhere?
It sounds like you don't like this country much. Have you considered moving elsewhere?
He can’t, he’s completely banned apparently.
I reckon not having plague-infected people crossing our borders willy-nilly is a fine thing overall - and most Australians would agree with me.
It seems you're confusing reality with 28 Days Later. That was a zombie film where people mutated into mindless, bloodthirsty husks within seconds of exposure to a deadly pathogen.
We have to be tested to find out whether we're sick with COVID and then be told we are, despite presenting no symptoms, and then be forced to not participate in society to grant a bunch of geriatrics and walking dead another 2 weeks to live while the economy implodes and future generations are rendered bankrupt before they're born; and that's just science baby.
But I don't mind being inconvenienced if it means we're not stacking up bodies outside hospitals.
Still parroting that hysterical media drivel from March 2020 based on some artificially-inflated death rates that have long since been revised?
Do you still check under your bed for Osama Bin Laden at night, too?
Maybe invest in some adult diapers if you're that easily terrified.
It sounds like you don't like this country much. Have you considered moving elsewhere?
Well hello there Captain Sweeping Statements; two can play at that game:
It sounds like you're a boot-licking serf. Have you considered reverting back to your colonial convict ways and re-incarcerating yourself at your nearest prison to save the constabulary the trouble of having to arrest you when you inevitably break the law? You may as well give up that tiresome charade of being free and just revert back to your effete, "Yes, me Lord" servitude.
When you're forced to be anywhere it tends to make your environment feel more like a prison and less like a home.
Lol, I'm the one pointing out how border closures and travel bans contravene our constitution and I'm the "un-Australian" one here? Absolutely Olympic Gold Medal-level mental gymnastics going on here.
He can’t, he’s completely banned apparently.
So, you've traveled to Bali once in your life is what you're saying?
I can see why reverting back to penal colony status is popular amongst the cohorts of those who've never set foot outside Australian shores. Must be nice being a simpleton.
Why are you guys obsessed with Japan? Go somewhere less-travelled.
Good food, good culture , clean , can be there literally with just one flight. Wife and I go there yearly.
Why do you feel the need to gatekeep how other people spend their time?
I'm demanding that you stop visiting Japan 😤
Going off the beaten path/to parts less traveled is fun when you're a young backpacker. But when you've got the money and your free time is more valuable it's not worth the inconveniences of "less traveled" places which have worse infrastructure, increased risk of injury or illness with less access to high quality medical facilities, plus security and political risks. Well-traveled places are well-traveled for a reason. Less traveled places are less traveled because they either just suck or are difficult to travel to.
We want to maximize our enjoyment and minimize the risk. Japan is perfect for this.
Taken to the extreme, this is why people (used to) go on cruises, but there is a happy medium.
I'll have the highlight one thing he said which was he thinks which alludes to more of a guess on his part.
I don't expect free and fully open travel by the end of the year, but I still feel there will be at least some bubbles at least started if immunisation doesn't curtail the transmission as much as hoped.
The main issue with covid compared to other coronaviruses is that even though it's not as deadly, is so much more contagious.
We'll have to look at countries like Israel as they seem to be a head of the pack in regards to vaccination, to see whether when they reach the Herd immunity levels (around 80%), transmission is stopped (It will need to be at least a month after that point is reached with the two doses to get a true picture).
Also I will have to note that quite often with some of these medical experts is that quite often they are commenting of fields of medicine that they have no expertise in. I just can remember last year on Q&A when some experts were going on about how there may not be any vaccines or they may take years to come about which now looks completely wrong.
In order for us to be able to travel to another country. Both Australia and the destination country need to be comfortable that you can depart and arrive COVID free. This means not until both countries have vaccinated most of its citizen.
For richer and low cases nations like Singapore, NZ, this may be possible sooner, if not already possible.
While COVID heavy and poorer nations, such as USA, UK, India, Indonesia, etc, not until they can guarantee at least 80% COVID Vaccination or test to its citizen.
There is a discussion about created COVID-free passport to those that are vaccinated, that means whomsoever may travel anywhere without quarantine. However this may still be deemed unsafe given if you have a simple injury or non-COVID disease (malaria for example), the hospital at the destination may not have capacity to treat you.
With the complexity around effectiveness of the vaccine against new strains, it may not until 2025.
I live in the US and sure hope it's Dec 2021 as I plan on visiting for Christmas, and I haven't been back since I left Aus in 2018.
Cool live there for work?
Yeah I went to business school and have now graduated and am working. Graduated in May, a very poor time to be looking for a job but it all worked out in the end.
I was planning to travel to US this year. Probably unlikely to happen.
Personally don't get the hype with overseas travel.
Maybe I'm too uncultured
There's a Chinese idiom called "frog at the bottom of the well" - by not visiting other parts of the world you restrict yourself to a very limited set of outlook and experiences. Travelling helps you connect with different people from different cultures. THOUGH it does tend to dampen your wallet ;)
Do you know that people have family and friends that live outside of the country….
Sure I get travelling to see friends and family, or for work. I am more talking about pure leisure.
I worked with someone in Western Sydney who hadn’t been to the city in ten years. She didn’t need to or want to go.
Different strokes for different folks.
you can travel now - just don't bother coming back…
During a global pandemic, boredom is for the lucky.
You can go to Tasmania -anytime-
If you feel the walls closing in on you it's because they are.
It was on the news today. No international travel until 2022
Was that forecast from anyone reputable?
I have doubts if he is reputable, but Brendan Murphy is the Federal health secretary
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-18/international-travel-…
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/overseas-travel-for-australians-…
Honest question. If covid is more infectious than the flu how do people expect to eradicate it? Won't it always be as common as the flu?
The goal is to reduce the r0 number (number of people infected per infectious person) to under 1. If we can do that then coronavirus dies out naturally. That can be achieved through herd immunity. Either enough people catch the virus and build up resistance for future infections, or we vaccinate enough people.
The catch is the virus may mutate and render out defenses ineffective. This is what the flu does on a regular basis, hence flu will always be around. Hopefully that's not the case for this coronavirus.
Anytime after September 2021
Australia will be left behind the so-called 1st-2nd worlds countries, if it still has the international borders close.
Other countries will likely start to re-open their borders from March 2021 and will start to get benefit by international tourist and those countries economonies will pick up .
Australia's economy can not survive just on domestic travel .
You are correct.
The only problem is Aussies love all the lockdowns and restrictions - the local culture is being told what to do and the politicians are just playing to the dumb
Cynical much? The last time I heard someone say they love the lockdowns and restrictions was… never.
Did you not see the Qld election results?
Queenslanders sent a clear mandate to the Government to keep up the ridiculous border wars.
I don't think travelling will be back to normal till late 2023. Even if they finally allow people to travel in 2022, initially it will be quite expensive. There will be heaps of demand for popular destinations, therefore the prices will be quite high. COVID will also have a 9/11 kinda affect on travel, We will probably have to go through special checks before we could enter an international aircraft.
Not until the majority of the world is vaccinated. Minimum late 2022. Will probably be select countries first.
When Can We Travel Overseas Again?
September.
For me, living in Sydney:
Overseas (Lord Howe Island): now
Overseas (Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, Hamilton Island etc): Whenever each state premier feels like they can open border to Sydney residents again.
Overseas (outside Australia): mid 2022.
I would love to travel in Australia in next 18 months, but the whole state border fiasco meant that is almost impossible.
Maybe travel in NSW? I've been exploring the Central Coast and the lower Hunter region in the last few months. Mostly short trips though.
Was hopeful for late this year as I planned to have a destination wedding in Bali originally… might have been a bit too optimistic. Looks like 2022 at the earliest (and that's also a big 'maybe') based on yesterday's news.
I was there Dec 2019 for our yearly trip. Should have made it 3 weeks only went there for 2. :(
I've booked an SQ redemption for mid Dec 2021 but saw the news today that it might be for nothing.
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/…