Tourism operators and industry representatives across Queensland have welcomed the decision to reopen Australia's international border in a fortnight, but some caution remains.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia would open its border to all international visitors on February 21, as long as they are double vaccinated.
Currently only Australian citizens, permanent residents, their family members and some vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia.
Visitors from New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan have been exempt from the restrictions for several months.
Nikki Giumelli, who runs a jetboat business in Cairns, said having a definitive reopening date for international tourists was a huge relief for the struggling Far North Queensland tourism industry.
"Historically it's been so important for our destination and moving forward," she said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), the region's peak tourism body, estimated the loss of overseas visitors had cost the far north economy about $3 million a day.
TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen said it had been frustrating watching other countries capitalise while Australia's international borders remained shut.
"We would've loved the opportunity to be in the market earlier but we had to keep our community safe so we're excited to get back out there.
"It has been a really long wait."
Recovery to take some time
But, Mr Olsen warned the recovery from the COVID-19 downturn would not be immediate and that it would take time for business to return to pre-pandemic levels.
"It doesn't just happen naturally," he said.
Those comments were echoed by Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Rick Hamilton, who said he did not expect a "huge influx" of international arrivals on February 21, and predicted there would be a period of transition.
"I think we'll see over time, and hopefully for the peak season in June, all the leisure international [travellers] coming back into Queensland," he said.
"But there is just a bit of caution in regards to that.
"The borders are coming down, but there are obviously still some restrictions in certain countries about people going back [home].
"For example, New Zealand … Kiwis can come here, but to go back to New Zealand there is 12 days of quarantine."
But, Mr Hamilton said he hoped this announcement would give businesses who had struggled through the pandemic hope for the future.
Infrastructure rebuild needed
Whitsunday charter boat operator Tony Brown, who also heads up the local industry group for operators, said about 98 per cent of charter boat customers were international visitors.
He said some operators hadn't run boats in two years.
"The impacts have been massive," he said.
Mr Brown said the industry needed to work out how it would attract international customers again, as travel agents who used to book the services prior to the pandemic were no longer working.
"The whole infrastructure, the way agents sold us right around the country, they've disappeared," he said.
"That side's been completely broken. We're all starting from scratch.
Wave of confidence hits Gold Coast
Further south on the Gold Coast, Acting Mayor Donna Gates said the announcement was historic.
"It's great news … I view it as the city's own Valentine's Day albeit a week late,'' she said.
"Just having the date will send a wave of confidence across the international travel and student market.
"We are ready to welcome back our much-loved international students as well as the broader international travel market."
She said the council supported the requirement for International travellers to be double vaccinated.
"If you truly want your freedom back, get vaccinated for yourself, your family and your passport.''
— additional reporting by Tara Cassidy
