More good news, you might soon be able to travel to the land Down Under! Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on Sunday that Singapore and Australia are discussing a potential 'travel bubble' that will allow residents to travel between both countries without the need to quarantine.
MFA said in response to media queries that the two countries are in discussions on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and resuming travel between both countries – with priority for students and business travellers. This could start in July, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said on ABC's Insiders on Sunday, March 14.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it could be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing two weeks' quarantine in Singapore. The Australian newspaper also reported that New Zealand could also be involved in what could potentially become a three-way travel bubble that federal government sources are hopeful will be established by July or August this year.
This news comes after an interview by The Straits Times with Mr Alexandre de Juniac, director of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) last week that leisure travel could return from the second half of this year. Singapore Airlines is also the first airline in the world to announce that it will start using IATA's Travel Pass in a trial.
This isn't the first talks of a possible 'travel bubble'. In November last year, Singapore and Hong Kong reached an in-principle agreement to establish a two-way Air Travel Bubble (ATB). However, the two countries decided to postpone its launch following tighter social distancing restrictions in Hong Kong.
We're keeping our fingers crossed this time. But we are already dreaming about miles and miles of vineyards in Western Australia, Victoria's cobbled streets brimming with cafes (we're looking at you, Melbourne) and Queensland's stunning coastline.
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