Australia’s minister for trade, tourism and investment Dan Tehan and Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison welcomed the country’s first international tourists this morning after almost two years of closed borders.
Australia’s official reopening to all fully vaccinated travellers came into effect today, with the first arrivals coming through Sydney International Airport.
Harrison said in a statement that the tourism industry has been looking forward to the return of international tourists.
“At Tourism Australia we are so excited to be welcoming back international visitors who make up a critical part of our visitor economy,” she said.
According to Travelport, international flight bookings to Australia spiked as soon as the reopening announcement was first made on February 7. International flight bookings to Australia rose by 93 per cent on that day when compared to the same day the week prior.
The majority of bookings – 75 per cent – was for leisure travel. Solo travellers made up 35 per cent of all Australian-bound flight bookings, and are the largest traveller segment. Travelport said these travellers might largely be Australians eager to return home, as they no longer had to endure a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.
In terms of forward bookings for Australia, February 2022 is the busiest month, attracting 45 per cent of all reservations.
Travelport’s data also identified Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as the top three Australian destinations for international travellers, while the top source markets are the UK, India, Nepal, the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Germany, the Philippines and Canada.
Melbourne property developer, Beulah, has appointed Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to manage the hotel within its new STH BNK By Beulah development.
Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne will crown the western tower with 210 rooms, with guests arriving through the Sky Lobby on the 63rd floor. The hotel will also offer a world-class integrated health and wellness experience, a sprawling rooftop restaurant and bar, and multiple event spaces.
Hotel guests can also access myriad experiences across STH BNK By Beulah, such as art and culture programmes, coworking facilities, the STH BNK Market Hall, and more.
On track to become Australia’s tallest tower, STH BNK By Beulah is also set to become the tallest vertical garden in the world. The vertical garden will reach a total of 5.5km.
Envisioned as a vertical mini-metropolis, the development will comprise four distinct collections of private residences, public and green spaces, a rooftop sky garden, a 3,000-seat auditorium, commercial offices, and more.
Adelene Teh, Beulah executive director, said: “As STH BNK By Beulah continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the luxury, lifestyle and sustainability spaces, Four Seasons is aligned perfectly to our ethos and vision, offering unparalleled experiences, a bold commitment to innovation, and fantastic sustainability initiatives across its hotels and resorts.”
Bart Carnahan, president, global business development and portfolio management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said the project would “set a new standard for luxury in Melbourne”.
Construction is expected to begin late 2022 and will take approximately five years to complete.