Australia planning travel bubble with Singapore from July: Reports


Marina Bay Sands, Singapore; Photo by Hu Chen on Unsplash

Melbourne, Australia:

“Australia is working on a travel bubble with Singapore from July”, several media outlets including The Guardian and Sydney Morning Herald have reported.

Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, on Sunday confirmed the validity of the reports, and said the Australian government is working on a plan to initiate a travel bubble between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said Australia was “working with Singapore at the moment potentially for a bubble (beginning) in July”.

“As the vaccine rolls out, not only in Australia but in other countries, we will reopen more bubbles,” he told public broadcaster ABC.

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.

The plan would also allow Singaporeans who have been vaccinated to enter Australia without cumpulsory two weeks quarantine. Citizens of other countries may also be eligible to enter Australia via Singapore after completing quarantine in Signapore.

The deal could also pave way for the return of thousands of international students, business travellers awaiting to arrive in Australia.