Coronavirus: Australia’s pandemic-era ban on cruise ships comes to an end after two years
- Ban on foreign cruise ships was imposed in March 2020 after a Covid outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess spilled into Sydney once the vessel docked
- A cruise line trade association estimates the Australian economy lost more than US$7.4 billion due to the ban
Australia’s ban on cruise ships entering the country’s waters ended on Sunday after more than two years.
Last month, the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it decided not to renew the ban.
The ban on foreign cruise ships – was imposed in March 2020 after a Covid-19 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess spilled into Sydney once the vessel docked – cost the Australian economy more than A$10 billion (US$7.4 billion), the Cruise Lines International Association estimates.
Operators “are preparing for a carefully managed resumption of operations in a sector that previously supported more than 18,000 Australian jobs,” the association said in a statement ahead of the ban’s expiry.
The states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland outlined additional security measures for passengers and crew in preparation for the ships to return, news agency AAP reported.
Western Australia and Northern Territory will allow smaller vessels to visit their ports while Tasmania and South Australia were still to announce their plans, broadcaster ABC reported.
