Unvaccinated visitors told: stay away from the US of A

If you are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 then you can forget about entering the United States any time soon.

The administration has outlined the entry requirements for foreign travellers visiting the US as it opens to visitors on November 8, Business Traveller reported. 

US President Joe Biden signed a proclamation this week imposing new vaccine requirements for most foreign air travellers. 

The new rules replace the 212 (f) restrictions that began at the outset of the pandemic and banned travellers from countries including the UK, Ireland, all Schengen countries, Brazil, South Africa, India, and China.

From early November, travellers must provide proof of double vaccination, as well as a negative Covid-19 test result taken within three days of departure. Both PCR and antigen tests can be used for entry.

Biden’s proclamation states: “It is in the interests of the United States to move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the Covid-19 pandemic and to adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of international air travel to the United States.”

Airlines will be required to check travellers’ vaccination status before they can board flights to the US, confirm that the proof of vaccination comes from an “official source” and that it was received at least two weeks before departure.

 The US is currently accepting any vaccines approved by the Federal Drug Administration and World Health Organisation.

Airlines operating flights to the US will also need to collect personal information from passengers for contact tracing purposes. This information will be kept on file for 30 days to allow health officials to get in touch with anyone who may have been exposed to Covid-19.

Travellers under the age of 18 will be exempt from the vaccine requirements, in addition to those with medical conditions, but they must still provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

Fiji ready to open its doors

Fiji has confirmed plans to reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from December 1.

It has listed certain countries as low risk, enabling vaccinated travellers to skip quarantine and head straight to resorts like Likuliku (above).


Approved countries are Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, the UAE, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, South Korea, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland and most Pacific Island countries and territories.


A pre-travel negative RT-PCR test will be required and a further test must be taken at their hotel 48 hours after arrival.


"It's been almost two years since we welcomed international visitors and in these two years, we've struggled, we've adapted, and we've prepared," said Tourism Minister Faiyaz Koya. "Today, our national airline is ready, our hotels and tour providers are ready." 

Fiji Airways recently announced that flights to and from the US will resume on December 1.


It is restarting flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu.


Tourism Fiji says more than 80% of adults in Fiji are now fully vaccinated.

“To our friends in Australia and New Zealand and to the residents of other countries we’re preparing to welcome, our message is simple: Fiji is ready to welcome you back to our shores,” said Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

For full details visit https://www.fiji.travel/covid-19/travelling-to-fiji

Air NZ says no vaccination certificate: no flight

Air New Zealand is to impose a blanket ban on unvaccinated passengers on all its international flights.

Customers intending to fly internationally with Air NZ must be fully vaccinated from February 2022, or will be refused access to the plane.

Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said the airline is working on a system to verify passengers' vaccination status.

"At the moment we have a card that we get, but obviously the plan is to move that to a digital solution," Foran said.

"The Government is working on the Travel Health Declaration, which will be required to be filled out.

"We're staying close to the industry body IATA, and they have something called the Travel Pass, so there'll be a combination of forms here that will be developed over the next four months to make it as seamless as possible.

"Being vaccinated against Covid-19 is the new reality of international travel – many of the destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors."

The Air NZ website says customers who are not vaccinated will be required to present proof that vaccination was not a viable option for them for medical reasons.

"Mandating vaccinations for both our employees and customers on our international flights will provide the peace of mind that everyone onboard meets the same health requirements as they do," the airline said.

No news yet on the implementation of a similar plans for domestic flights.

In September, Qantas, Australia's national carrier, said it will require that all passengers on international flights to be vaccinated.

Image: TA Ho on Scop.io

Get vaccinated and win a very special hotel prize

Marriott International has swung behind attempts to get recalcitrant members of the public to vaccinate against Covid-19. 

Marriott is offering fully vaccinated Australians the chance to win a stay in each of the 28 Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resorts across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. 

Marriott aims to help the travel industry's recovery through a competition that travellers will not want to miss.

Sean Hunt, Marriott International vice president for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, said: “It's vital that we support and incentivise Australians to get vaccinated so we can all start travelling again as soon as it is safe to do so. 

"In line with the Federal and State Government national vaccination rollout, Marriott's vaccine incentive program is designed to stimulate economic recovery for our industry. As we head into the Christmas holidays, we want Australian's to be able to travel to see family and experience travel across our nation again.”

Marriott is offering Australians who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the chance to go in the running to win one of five Marriott Bonvoy packages, a one-night stay at each of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and resort in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia. 

Five winners will get the chance to experience them all once borders open.

“Marriott has also undertaken a suite of measures and incentives to support our Associates during the pandemic, including priority access to vaccinations and scheduling flexibility to allow our staff to be vaccinated along with providing financial support and vaccination funding in Fiji and Samoa, to ensure our workforce is cared for and ready to return to work,” Hunt said. 

Anyone who has been vaccinated can enter. In 25 words or less they must tell Marriott what travelling means to them, sign up to the Marriott Bonvoy program and upload a Covid-19 certificate. 

Prize winners will have access to the portfolio of Marriott International brands across the ANZPAC region, including the Classic Luxury hotels operating under The Ritz Carlton, W Hotels and JW Marriott; the premium brand range of Sheraton, Marriott and Westin, along with select properties including Courtyard by Marriott and Four Points and Australia's first Luxury Collection property, The Tasman, due to open in Hobart in December.

Entry details are available here www.marriottvaccinepassport.com.au/

P&O Australian to ban unvaccinated passengers

P&O Cruises Australia has announced it will restart operations with fully vaccinated ships only.

No vaccination certificate: no cruise. 

Only fully vaccinated guests will be permitted aboard and all crew will be double jabbed.

"We want to do our bit to get this country back up and running again," said cruise line president Sture Myrmell (below).

"Governments have been connecting vaccination rates to plans to end lockdowns, border restrictions and, ultimately, re-opening Australia. 

"In addition, our research shows that the vast majority of our guests want to cruise with other vaccinated Australians."


The cruise line said it will update customers with a clear vaccination policy and other on-board health protocols when a restart date is granted by the Australian Government.


CLIA Australasia has been pushing the federal government for months to formulate a reopening plan of action for the cruise industry, starting with domestic sailings.


"In the past 15 months, more than $6 billion in economic activity linked to cruising in Australia has been wiped along with the livelihoods of suppliers including farmers, technical support services, tour operators and entertainers," Myrmell said.