Family and friends have been reunited after two years apart as WA reopened its border to interstate and international travellers.
There were tears, hugs and kisses as loved ones were reunited when the first flights landed at Perth Airport on the morning of Thursday, March 3.
One clip showed a father and a son embrace each other as they were reunited while another showed a grandfather hug his granddaughter.
WA reopened its borders to international and interstate travellers on Thursday, provided they adhere to specific requirements.
Interstate travellers need to have a registered G2G Pass, be triple vaccinated (if eligible) and undertake a rapid antigen tests (RATs) within 12 hours of arrival to enter The Golden State.
Meanwhile, international arrivals must meet the same requirements in addition to Commonwealth Government requirements to enter Australia.
Unvaccinated Australians returning from overseas need to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine.
The State Government is currently providing all interstate and international arrivals with two RATs so they can self-administer at home.
WA closed its interstate border on March 24, 2020, shortly after Australia's international border was closed on March 20, 2020 - meaning it has been almost two years since WA's borders were fully open.
The WA border was initially supposed to reopen on February 5, 2022 but was delayed to March 3, 2022 due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant spreading across Australia.
Tourism industry looks to bounce back
More than $500,000 worth of free tourism vouchers will be handed out at Perth Airport this week in a bid to stimulate the tourism industry by the WA Government.
The vouchers include experiences such as a three-day tour of Margaret River, skydiving at Rottnest Island, swimming with dolphins or touring Penguin Island, as well as sunset stargazing at the Pinnacles.
Premier Mark McGowan said he wants to promote WA as "an ideal place to visit, invest and live".
"When interstate and international travel returns in full on March 3, we want to encourage visitors to experience all we can offer, while ensuring local tourism operators enjoy the benefits," he said.
Meanwhile, Tourism Australia has launched a $40 million advertising campaign now that international borders have reopened.
The "Don't go small. Go Australia" campaign has been targeting tourists from the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and the US, including billboards in Times Square in New York City.
Meanwhile, the "Australia is Yours to Explore" campaign will continue in Singapore, whose citizens where welcomed into Australia earlier thanks to an international travel bubble.
Shivé Prema
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
