Queensland has officially reopened its borders to all states except Victoria after 15 weeks.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged travellers to expect significant delays and to reconsider their plans with border congestion expected to add up to three hours to travel time. Delays were exacerbated by the state government's new border declaration passes, designed to screen drivers from Victoria from entering Qld. Exemptions exist for returned Queenslanders but they would be forced into quarantine for 14 days.
Tourism operators, hoteliers and hospitality workers expressed their optimism for the local economy with much of the Sunshine State reliant on interstate tourism. The first flights landed at Gold Coast Airport just before 12pm with passengers ordered to wait inside the terminal until midday. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia has offered heavily discounted flights as the aviation sector works to capitalise on the border opening and winter school holidays.
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