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Category: News

For Alberto inNews the

Australia: Long-awaited international student return plan arrives

In recent weeks there has been a flurry of announcements from Australian states and territories. New student return pilot programs have been approved, and we now see a variety of deadlines and arrival protocols for incoming students in the coming months to be able to study in Australia.

If you’ve been struggling to keep up with the latest news, we hope you find the following summary useful.

Before we begin, some other important elements for context.

Firstly, the Australian academic year – for higher education institutions – is generally structured around two semesters, starting in February or March (depending on the institution) and July and August. The Australian pre-school and secondary education system follows a four-term calendar beginning in January, April, July and October.

Second, the Australian government has expanded its list of approved COVID vaccines in recent months. As of November 17, the vaccines approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) are:

Comirnaty (Pfizer)
Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
Covishield (AstraZeneca)
Spikevax (Modern)
Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
Coronavac (Sinovac)
BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years)
Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)


To be considered fully vaccinated, arriving travellers must have received two full doses at least 14 days apart (or one dose of Janssen-Cilag/Johnson & Johnson vaccine), and must have completed their course of vaccination at least seven days before arriving in Australia.

Finally, vaccination rates within Australia, which had lagged earlier this year, are beginning to increase more rapidly. By mid-November 2021, approximately 70% of eligible Australians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Australian Capital Territory
Capital: Canberra

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) announced on 22 October that it will welcome back fully vaccinated international higher education students for the start of the 2022 academic year.

Returning students will have to meet all Australian government vaccination and testing requirements, but will not have to pass quarantine.

“It’s great to have clarity on the arrangements in the Australian Capital Territory and to know that, as soon as the borders open, our students will be able to come straight back to campus,” said Brian Schmidt, vice-chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU). “We will continue to work with the Commonwealth on arrangements to open the borders to students as soon as Australia can safely do so.”

 

New South Wales
Capital: Sydney

The New South Wales (NSW) government announced Nov. 12 that vaccinated students will be able to return to the state without quarantine.

The first chartered plane of returning students under the New South Wales International Student Arrival Pilot Scheme will land in Sydney on Monday 6 December. That flight will carry about 250 students from more than 15 countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Canada.

“This is an important milestone on our roadmap to recovery and I look forward to welcoming such an important part of our community,” said Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet. “Not only do they make a significant contribution to our economy, but international students play a role in our culture and contribute to our community and lifestyle.”

 

Queensland
Capital: Brisbane

On October 26, Queensland’s Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe, announced that the state will once again welcome international students in early 2022. All incoming students must spend a two-week quarantine in a designated facility.

In the first phase of the Queensland Student Inbound Plan, students who continue on to Queensland universities will return to complete their studies. The scheme gives priority to those studying medicine, medical research and allied health disciplines. The state envisages a phased approach, with eligibility criteria for education providers and students, and the number of places, expanding in each phase.

“While distance learning has made it possible for students to continue their university studies in Queensland from their home countries, we recognise that it is not a sustainable, long-term substitute for face-to-face tutorials and practical experience. We also know that international students make an important contribution to the culture of Queensland cities and our regions,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

 

South Australia
Capital: Adelaide

The South Australian government has announced that the state will welcome fully vaccinated nationals and internationals (including international students) without a quarantine period once 90% of South Australians (over 12 years of age) are fully vaccinated.

The 90% target is expected to be reached by the end of December 2021.

Study Adelaide provides regular updates and additional background information on its website.

 

Tasmania
Capital: Hobart

Tasmania has also announced its reopening roadmap, where all vaccinated international travellers will be able to enter without going through quarantine from 15 December. All arriving travelers must present a negative COVID-19 test.

 

Victoria
Capital: Melbourne

Victoria has also approved a pilot program for the safe return of students, for which students must complete a 14-day quarantine. The first charter flights with returning students are expected in December 2021.

 

Western Australia
Capital: Perth

The State Government has announced that Western Australia (WA) will welcome back fully vaccinated international students in time for the start of the new academic year in February 2022.

The official reopening date will be set once Western Australia reaches a vaccination rate of double 80%, which is expected to occur in December 2021.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Sue Ellery has confirmed that the government envisages a reopening date of late January or early February 2022, which “would allow eligible international students to arrive in time for the first semester of 2022 or begin any required English or other preparatory courses before the second semester.”

 

Northern Territory
Capital: Darwin

International Education Minister Nicole Manison announced this month that the territory is preparing a plan for approval by the national government. If confirmed, the plan will see chartered flights land students returning to the territory in January 2022.

“International students make a huge contribution to the territory’s economy, with each student bringing in an average of A$40,693 each year,” the minister told ABC News. “By providing a pathway for international students to return to the territory and Australia, we are helping to diversify the economy, grow our population and support local jobs.”

 

It’s time to do your English course in Australia you’ve been waiting for.

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Which EU countries are open to vaccinated tourists?

El verano cada día se acerca más y el aumento de las tasas de vacunación también. Algunos países de la Unión Europea van más deprisa que otros a la hora de abrir las fronteras al turista extranjero.

A medida que aumentan las tasas de vacunación y se acerca el verano, en Europa, muchas personas que ya se han vacunado contra el COVID-19 están ansiosas por poder ir de vacaciones. El nuevo “Certificado Digital COVID” de la UE será efectivo a partir del 1 de julio para facilitar los viajes dentro de Europa, y los Estados miembros han acordado unas normas y recomendaciones para permitir el regreso a la UE de los turistas totalmente vacunados, procedentes del extranjero. Pero, por ahora, la realidad sigue siendo un mosaico de restricciones en el que los Estados miembros aplican políticas diferentes de distintas maneras.

La situación varía de un país a otro. A continuación, se detallan algunas de las normas -y excepciones- vigentes para los viajeros vacunados en toda la UE:

Francia

Francia, ha abierto sus puertas a muchos turistas de todo el globo que hayan recibido las dosis completas de vacunación a partir del 9 de junio. Es el destino número uno del turismo internacional.

  • Las personas vacunadas que viajen desde la UE y los países de la lista “verde” de Francia -entre ellos Corea del Sur, Japón e Israel- pueden evitar por completo el requisito de la prueba COVID-19. Los viajeros no vacunados de esas regiones pueden entrar con una prueba negativa.
  • Mientras tanto, los turistas vacunados de la lista “naranja” de Francia -que incluye a Estados Unidos, México y la mayoría de los países de África y Asia- no necesitarán demostrar una razón esencial para viajar. Estarán exentos de la cuarentena, pero deberán presentar una prueba COVID-19 negativa.Las personas no vacunadas de esas zonas sólo podrán entrar en Francia por razones esenciales, como asistir a un funeral o recibir atención médica urgente.
  • Lo mismo ocurre con la lista “roja” de Francia, que incluye a Sudáfrica, India, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay y Colombia. Todas las personas que lleguen de zonas rojas deberán auto-aislarse durante al menos siete días, incluso si están vacunadas.

Francia volverá a abrirse a los turistas internacionales, siempre y cuando estén vacunados, con condiciones.

España

España ha abierto sus fronteras a los turistas vacunados de muchos países del mundo, el 7 de junio.

Las personas que entren en España desde lo que se considera zonas de “riesgo” -incluidos muchos miembros de la UE y la mayoría de los demás países del mundo- pueden evitar los requisitos de cuarentena presentando una prueba de vacunación completa con una vacuna que haya sido aprobada por la Agencia Europea del Medicamento o por la Organización Mundial de la Salud, una prueba de recuperación del COVID-19, o un test negativo. La vacunación con la segunda dosis debe haber tenido lugar 14 días antes del viaje.

España ha puesto en “shock” a Europa al permitir que los turistas del Reino Unido entren libremente, independientemente de su estado de vacunación. Mientras tanto, la mayoría de los ciudadanos de la UE deben tener una prueba de inmunidad a la COVID-19 o una prueba. 

Grecia

Grecia ha abierto sus puertas a los turistas de unos 50 países, incluidos los Estados miembros de la UE, Rusia y China, Estados Unidos, Canadá.

  • Para pisar en Grecia, los viajeros deben tener un certificado de vacunación, una prueba de PCR negativa o una prueba de recuperación de COVID-19.

Las autoridades griegas consideran que las personas están realmente vacunadas 14 días después de que se les administrara la última dosis, y los viajeros pueden seguir siendo sometidos a pruebas rápidas aleatorias en el aeropuerto. Todas las personas que lleguen deben rellenar un formulario de localización de pasajeros al menos 24 horas antes de su llegada.

Alemania

La mayoría de los viajes a Alemania desde fuera de la UE y del espacio Schengen siguen limitándose a los viajes urgentes. A pesar de ello, Alemania ha empezado a aceptar los certificados COVID-19 en algunos casos en los que se permite viajar.

Mientras los pasajeros que llegan al país en avión por lo general tienen que someterse a la prueba antes de su salida del país nativo, ahora están exentos de dicho test los que pueden tengan un certificado de vacunación contra el coronavirus.

Los turistas que hayan pasado por lo que Alemania considera una “zona de riesgo” (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Colombia, México, Paraguay, Perú) deben entrar en cuarentena al llegar a Alemania, y, como norma, el periodo de aislamiento puede “terminar antes de tiempo” si se presenta un certificado de vacunación, según el Instituto Robert Koch del país.

Los pasajeros que hayan estado en un país clasificado por Alemania como “zona roja” -como el Reino Unido, Brasil, India o Uruguay a partir del 4 de junio- no pueden abandonar la cuarentena antes de tiempo, aunque estén vacunados.

Otros países

Otros países de la UE: Dinamarca, Eslovenia, Letonia, Estonia, Austria, Polonia y Lituania, están adoptando por ahora enfoques similares a los de Alemania: mantienen las restricciones a la mayoría de los viajes no esenciales desde fuera de la UE, al tiempo que obvían de algunos requisitos de pruebas y cuarentena a las personas vacunadas.

  • El sitio web de la Unión Europea “Reopen EU” ofrece información actualizada sobre las normas y restricciones de viaje en los 27 Estados miembros.

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Spain, the favorite destination for European tourists this summer 2021 (and the rest of the year)

Spain, the favourite destination for European tourists 2021

Spain leads the ranking of favorite places to travel this summer. So say Italians, Germans, French and English. And even the Spaniards themselves plan to stay and enjoy their virtuous country. Mind you, they plan to spend even more than they did in 2019….

Before the pandemic, the sun, the beach, the party, the gastronomy and so many other Spanish good things made other Europeans choose Spain as their main holiday destination when this time of the year (summer) arrived. However, this year, despite the Covid-19, it seems that the preference will be repeated again. Not surprisingly, more than half of the citizens of the main Spanish tourism source markets (France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom) say they will travel to Spain at some point this holiday. And not only that, but they also plan to do so for the rest of the year.

These are the data from Opinion and Big Data to understand the International Tourist, their tourist preferences for the middle-end of the year. The meeting organized by Ipsos, the third largest market and opinion research company in the world, together with Turespaña and Mabrian, a tourism intelligence platform, were responsible for collecting this intelligent data. Its objective was focused on analysing the holiday plans of the four countries mentioned above.

In terms of volume of European tourists, according to data from the European Travel Commission, it is expected that 72% of Europeans intend to travel between the months of June and September, compared to 56% who showed interest in February 2021. 31% of them intend to travel in June and July, 41% will travel in August and September. In contrast, 16% of respondents prefer to wait to travel in the autumn months.

 

Summer Extension

According to Eva Aranda, Ipsos Tourism expert in Spain; Miguel Sanz, General Director of Turespaña, and Sonia Huerta, Head of Customer Success at Mabrian, the main conclusion of the data presented is that 2021 should not be taken for lost in terms of tourism, since “there is life beyond the summer”, as they agree in indicating.

More than half of the citizens of the main European tourists in Spain say they will travel in 2021, being Italy (62%) the state most willing to do so, followed by France (51%), United Kingdom (48%) and Germany (48%).

 

Vaccine as a decisive factor

According to Miguel Sanz, CEO of Tuespaña, “the vaccine has changed the perspective of tourists increasing their desire to travel and leading to a summer season that this 2021 is posed as the opportunity for the recovery of the sector”. In his opinion, the tourist has a greater willingness to pay more for the quality of the experience that is offered, something that from the sector should “take advantage of these months to make a great season that is expected to extend well into October. We could interpret that the desire of European tourists to travel, is very high compared to previous years, by the confinement that many countries have suffered and the blocking of borders, because of the Covid-19, data that should be used to present the European tourist the best of the experiences at the time of their possible arrival in July-August.

In relation to flight searches made by natives of Spain’s tourist sending countries, it is observed that Spain maintains a competitive position with respect to other places compared to 2019. In fact, the countries that most demand Spain, to travel this summer using the plane as a means of transport, hardly change, placing it in first place. It adds a seven-point increase over 2019, thanks to that increase in domestic tourism.

Ipsos analyzed another big data, the number of days that tourists will spend in their destinations. Those going to Spain by air will increase their expected average stay compared to 2019 in all markets. Thus, the Germans are the ones who will spend more time on average, 9.5 days, followed by the English and Italians (8.6 days in both cases) and French (8.4 days).

 

If you and your loved ones are so eager to travel abroad and are looking for a reason to make the most of what summer has in store for you, don’t miss the opportunity! A part of the tourists every year come to Spain or to any country in Europe to study the native language of the country they are visiting. At YNSITU (the world’s first marketplace dedicated to language tourism) we offer you the possibility to take any type of language course (really any type of course), anywhere in the world. From Exam Preparation to Language Courses for Seniors (+30, 40, 50 years old).

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72% of Europeans plan to travel this summer according to the European Travel Commission

72% of Europeans will travel this summer

Interest in travel has increased among European citizens as the epidemiological situation progresses. This is helped by the fact that entry restrictions to European countries are becoming less and less restrictive. As data from the European Travel Commission (ETC) shows, 72% of Europeans plan to travel this summer.

The latest research from ETC’s “Monitoring Domestic and Intra-European Travel Sentiment – Wave 7” shows these positive intentions and travel preferences.

The increasing rate of administration of COVID-19 vaccines and the new EU COVID Certificate, together with the arrival of summer, increases the desire and interest of Europeans to start travelling and holidaying. 57% of respondents are optimistic about planning a trip, thanks to the vaccines administered. 18% are still unconvinced and the remaining 25% are neutral about it.

72% of Europeans intend to travel between June and September, compared to 56% who showed interest in February 2021. 31% of them intend to travel in June and July, 41% will travel in August and September. In contrast, 16% of respondents prefer to wait to travel in the autumn months.

 

Restrictions and quarantines are less and less of a concern

When preparing for travel, quarantine requirements and changes in regulations continue to be a problem, although this is becoming less of an issue as measures in European countries are being relaxed as the situation progresses.

Flight cancellations can be a problem, so it is important to know the conditions in your destination country before planning your trip. The airplane is a concern among travelers in terms of health and safety. As a result, preference for air travel has decreased by 11% since February 2021 and preference for car travel has increased by 23%.

 

Preferred destinations

As the intention to travel increases, so does the interest in travelling to other European countries. 51% of respondents prefer it, while 36% prefer domestic travel.

“Europeans travelling abroad this summer prefer southern destinations such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal for their next trip,” notes the ETC.

 

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