The Australian government is working on a plan to create a travel bubble with Singapore. It comes as Singapore’s prime minister said he hoped the country could start reopening its borders more widely as vaccination programmes advance.
If agreed, the deal with Canberra could also establish Singapore as a quarantine gateway for travellers on their way to Australia. On Sunday, the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, confirmed the government was working on the plan.
Under the proposals, Australians would be allowed to travel to Singapore without approval from the home affairs department provided they have been vaccinated for coronavirus.
Singaporeans who have been vaccinated would be able to travel to Australia without having to undergo two weeks of hotel quarantine.
It may also be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine in the south-east Asian city-state.
Separately, Singapore’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said in a TV interview he hoped Singapore would start re-opening its borders by the end of the year as more countries ramped up vaccination drives.
The south-east Asian country has largely banned leisure travel, but has put in place some business and official travel programmes. It was also discussing the mutual recognition of vaccine certificates with other nations.
“I hope if that many countries can have substantial proportions of their populations vaccinated by later this year, we will be able to have the confidence and to have developed the systems to open up our international borders to travel safely again,” Lee said in an interview with BBC that aired on Sunday.
“Hopefully by the end of this year or next year, the doors can start to open, if not earlier,” he said.
Meanwhile attempts for Australia to reach similar arrangements with New Zealand appear to have reached a stalemate.
Eastern Australian states have allowed New Zealanders to travel freely to Australia since late last year but New Zealand is yet to reciprocate.
Its prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has been frustrated with Australian states flicking the switch from open borders, or “green zone”, to closed, or “red zone”, on short notice in response to NZ outbreaks.
New Zealand’s Covid-19 minister Chris Hipkins said a goal of shared plans between the two countries has all but been abandoned. However, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said he would happily open Australia’s borders to Kiwis when Ardern chooses to.