Qld's COVID-19 Vaccine Plan for travel | Where to get vaccinated

Update from Visit Sunshine Coast View this email in your browser

I’m sure many of you would have seen yesterday’s release of the Queensland COVID-19 Roadmap. The announcement has finally given us clarity on how we can move ahead.

I know that many of our accommodation operators have significant interstate bookings over the Christmas period, and until yesterday there was no certainty that these guests could get to the Sunshine Coast. So, I’m sure there is a lot of relief for you and for your customers to plan ahead knowing that anyone who is fully vaccinated can come to the Sunshine Coast from 17 December.

With the roadmap in place, we can now gear up for the busy Christmas period and make up some ground from the past 18 months.

Following the announcement, I joined a briefing by the Premier, Treasurer and Queensland Tourism Minister to discuss the Plan. It was an opportunity to provide feedback and request for additional details we need from it. We will continue to work through these areas with Government to get the information we all need to prepare for the changes.

For us, the roadmap also provides the clarity we need to plot our marketing activities with confidence in the interstate markets and pick up from where we left off. However, in the lead-up to Christmas our promotions remain focused on our intrastate markets. As part of our drive market activities, we are launching a campaign with Mix FM tomorrow to appeal and incentive the local community to invite ‘visiting friends and relatives’ to region. I have also been encouraged by the initial results from our operators participating in the Great Queensland Getaway campaign that was launched yesterday to also drive our intrastate market.

Finally, the roadmap makes it clear that the path forward is all about our vaccination rates. As such it’s critical we all do our bit to get the tourism industry back on its feet and get fully vaccinated. With that, we can then get back to focusing on what we do best, and that is delivering a world-class experience to our visitors.

Matt Stoeckel
CEO

Queensland's COVID-19 Vaccination Plan has been announced outlining dates for Queensland's borders to re-open to interstate hotspots. Download the Plan.

Key milestones are:

At 70% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated EXPECTED ON NOVEMBER 19

Anyone who has been in a declared domestic hotspot in the previous 14 days can travel into Queensland provided:
- They are fully vaccinated
- Arrive by air
- Have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours
- Undertake home quarantine for 14 days

Direct international arrivals into Queensland will have to complete 14 days quarantine in Government-nominated facility.
International arrivals who arrive via another state or territory will have to quarantine in a Government-nominated facility until 14 days have passed since they arrived into Australia.

At 80% of Queensland’s eligible population fully vaccinated EXPECTED ON DECEMBER 17

Travellers from an interstate hotspot can arrive by road or air
They must be fully vaccinated
They must have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours
No quarantine required

Direct international arrivals can undertake 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) home quarantine and subject to conditions set by Queensland Health provided they are:

Fully vaccinated
Have a negative COVID test in previous 72 hours

Those who don’t meet these criteria will need to enter within Queensland’s international arrivals cap and quarantine in a Government-nominated facility, just like now.
Those arriving via other states and territories won’t need to quarantine if they are:

Fully vaccinated
Have undertaken at least 14 days (subject to AHPPC review) of quarantine under the direction of another state or territory at home or in a government-nominated facility.

Those who don’t meet the criteria to arrive via another state or territory will need to apply for a border pass and undertake up to 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) quarantine in a government-nominated facility.
It is important for businesses to know, at 80% vaccination coverage, there will not be government financial assistance available in the event of increased restrictions or lockdowns.

At 90% of Queenslanders fully vaccinated

No entry restrictions or quarantine for vaccinated arrivals from interstate or overseas
Unvaccinated travellers will need to apply for a border pass, or enter within the international arrivals cap, and undertake up to 14 days (subject to review by AHPPC) quarantine.

Where you can get vaccinated

Queensland's COVID-19 Vaccine Plan