The trans-Tasman travel bubble that reopens two-way travel between Australia and New Zealand without the previously mandatory 14-days of quarantine has begun in mid-April. This travel bubble is projected to drive positive impacts upon the COVID-19 pandemic recovery in the two countries, such as the resumption of direct people-to-people interactions. Apart from this, I am sure the positive economic contributions generated by this travel bubble are welcomed by many in the two countries.
As described in the CLAIR Sydney Newsletter published in January 2021, compared with most of the world, Australia and New Zealand are in such enviable positions with their achievements in managing the pandemic and combating the COVID-19 virus. I believe that it must be very encouraging for the rest of the world to see the establishment of the trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, two of the few countries that have triumphed in their COVID-19 responses.
As you may know, the activities of CLAIR Sydney take place in both Australia and New Zealand. Since late March 2021, our activities in New Zealand have been limited to online-based activities. The establishment of this travel bubble now allows CLAIR Sydney staff to resume our on the ground activities in New Zealand. I hope that our staff, including the three new Assistant Directors whose introductions you can find in this newsletter, can meet with the people of New Zealand at upcoming events and meetings very soon.
We sincerely hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will be contained promptly worldwide, and look forward to seeing more travel bubbles being established worldwide in the short term following the footsteps of the Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
From the 3rd to the 13th of December, eight selected swimmers from the Fukuoka Swimming Association visited NSW, where they participated in joint training sessions with a local school and competed in the 2024-25 Speedo NSW Senior State Age Championships.
