United Grows Its Leading Pacific Network With New Flights To Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Adelaide And Manila

United today announced it intends to be the only U.S. airline to offer flights to Bangkok, Thailand, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with new daily service from Hong Kong planned to start this fall*. These new flights will be scheduled to offer easier connections for travelers from across North America to help meet the growing demand for travel to these destinations.

Starting December 11, United will launch the first nonstop flights between the U.S. and Adelaide, Australia – just in time for the Australian summer. With the addition of this three times weekly seasonal service, United is now the leading carrier to Australia from the continental U.S., also offering flights to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

In addition, United is also adding a second daily flight between San Francisco and Manila. Starting on October 25, travelers from both cities will have the option of a daytime or evening flight for greater convenience. United is the only U.S. airline to serve the Philippines, with service to both Manila and Cebu.

With these new routes, United will now offer flights from the U.S. to 32 different cities in the Pacific region – four times that of any other U.S. carrier – further cementing its status as the world's largest airline** with the most extensive international network.

"At United, we're changing the way people think about where they travel – by offering the greatest access to see and explore the world, whether it's for relaxation, adventure or business," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances at United. "We offer more than the best schedule and travel options – we connect customers to sought after destinations and opportunities to explore new, vibrant cities."

United is the world's leading carrier across the Pacific**; in the past year alone, the airline served more than six million business and leisure passengers in the Pacific region.

Tickets for the Adelaide and the new Manila flights are on sale now on United.com and on the United app. Tickets for Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City flights will be available for sale at a later date.

Bangkok, Thailand

United will be the only U.S. airline to offer daily flights to Bangkok starting October 26. The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and allow a mix of local and international travelers to explore the city's deep history.

Known for mixing vibrancy and tradition, there is plenty to explore in Bangkok. Customers can see hundreds of ancient temples like Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn), check out Lumpini Park – a green oasis amid the bustling cityscape, ride in a tuk-tuk around the city, sample street food like mango sticky rice, boat noodles, and gai tod, and finish the evening walking through Srinagarindra Train Night Market filled with local eats, lights, live bands and bars.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Beginning October 26, United will be the only U.S. airline to offer daily flights to Ho Chi Minh City. The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and allow a mix of local and international travelers to explore the city's deep history.

Customers visiting can enjoy notable sites like The Saigon Opera House and Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, scooter through rice field paths, try amazing Vietnamese flavors from open-air pho stalls and local street vendors, enjoy the bursting microbrewery scene, and much more.

Adelaide, Australia

United will become the first carrier to offer nonstop service between the U.S. and Adelaide* with its nonstop three-times weekly seasonal service from San Francisco starting on December 11. The flight will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and builds on United's leading network coverage, making United the only airline to offer nonstop service between the U.S. and four major cities in Australia. These routes, combined with the airline's partnership with Virgin Australia, offer travelers more choice and access across the country.

Adelaide offers U.S. travelers the chance to escape the cold and visit renowned wine regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, experience the stunning natural beauty of Kangaroo Island, and taste the region's impeccable produce while exploring stands from more than 70 local traders at the Adelaide Central Markets – one of the largest fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere.

Manila, Philippines

On October 25, United will begin flying its second flight between San Francisco and Manila*, bringing U.S. travelers more flexibility between day and evening flights when traveling to the Philippines. The flight will be operated on a Boeing 777-300ER.

Customers can visit historic sites like San Agustin and Fort Santiago, try local Filipino foods like kwek-kwek, turon, and halo-halo from street vendors , shop at one of the largest malls in Asia – the Mall of Asia, take in art and history at some of the country's national museums housed in Manila, or make a day trip to Tagaytay and cruise by boat to see the stunning Taal Volcano – a natural wonder set on its own island.

United's Growing Global Reach

United has the largest network in the world**, including the largest international network from North America, which it continues to expand at an industry-leading pace. The airline offers approximately 500 daily flights to and from 150 international destinations for travelers around the world. This expansion reinforces United's commitment to growing its network and bringing travelers to new destinations. The airline is also gearing up to kick off its highly anticipated Summer 2025 schedule that was announced last October.

* Subject to government approval ** As measured by available seat miles

For more details, please visit: https://www.united.com/en/us

Australia Flights Are On Sale For Less Than $800 Roundtrip With American Airlines—How To Book

The deals end March 2.

The sun sets behind the Sydney Opera House and Sydney skyline from Port Jackson, commonly known as Sydney Harbour. Photo: Marc Dozier/Getty Images

American Airlines is making getting to Australia more affordable with a new deal.

A flight to Australia is a long haul, so it’s nice when it isn’t a long haul on your pocket book. For a limited time, American Airlines is making a round trip flight to Sydney, Australia from the U.S. starting at $899, and one-way flights starting at only 30,000 miles.

The promotion from American's deal advertises a roundtrip starting price of $899, but T+L spotted some flights that are even lower. For example, a flight booked from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney on March 1, 2025 came in at $796 per person roundtrip. A roundtrip flight from Chicago (ORD) to Sydney came in at $852 per person.

There are some important restrictions for this deal. Flights are valid for reservations that are made between Feb 17, 2025 and March 2, 2025. Travel must be from the United States to Sydney (SYD) and booked for the following dates to get their special prices:

January 15 to July 13, 2025

July 24, 2025 to December 5, 2025

December 23 to December 25, 2025

January 15 to July 13, 2026.

American says some limited stopovers are allowed, but it will affect the flight cost. Basic Economy seats remain non-refundable. Seat assignments are only made at booking and upgrades may not always be allowed.

If you are redeeming miles for their one-way, 30,000 mile offer, availability is limited and only valid for U.S. flights in the 48 contiguous states to Australia. The offer is only for those reservations made from the U.S. made between February 17 and April 17, 2025 and for returning to the U.S between February 17 and April 1, 2025. Travel dates from the U.S. should be between March 10 and April 17, 2025 and returning to the U.S. between March 5 and April 1, 2025. Stopovers cannot be combined with this offer.

By Brandon Withrow

Australia Plans To Halve Migrant Intake, Tighten Student Visa Rules

Australia on Monday said it would tighten visa rules for international students and low-skilled workers that could halve its migrant intake over the next two years as the government looks to overhaul what it said was a "broken" migration system.

Under the new policies, international students would need to secure higher ratings on English tests and there would be more scrutiny on a student's second visa application that would prolong their stay.

"Our strategy will bring migration numbers back to normal," Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said during a media briefing.

"But it's not just about numbers. It's not just about this moment and the experience of migration our country is having at this time. This is about Australia's future."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over the weekend said Australia's migration numbers needed to be wound back to a "sustainable level," adding that "the system is broken."

O'Neil said the government's targeted reforms were already putting downward pressure on net overseas migration and will further contribute to an expected decline in migrant numbers.

The decision comes after net immigration was expected to have peaked at a record 510,000 in 2022-23. Official data showed it was forecast to fall to about a quarter of a million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, roughly in line with pre-COVID levels.

O'Neil said the increase in net overseas migration in 2022-23 was mostly driven by international students.

Shares of IDP Education (IEL.AX), which provides placement and education services to international students, were down more than 3% in afternoon trade.

Australia boosted its annual migration numbers last year to help businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought strict border controls, and kept foreign students and workers out for nearly two years.

But the sudden influx of foreign workers and students has exacerbated pressure on an already tight rental market, with homelessness on the rise in the country.

A survey done for the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Monday said 62% of Australian voters said the country's migration intake was too high.

Long reliant on immigration to supply what is now one of the tightest labour markets in the world, Australia's Labor government has pushed to speed up the entry of highly skilled workers and smooth their path to permanent residency.

A new specialist visa for highly skilled workers will be set up with the processing time set at one week, helping businesses recruit top migrants amid tough competition with other developed economies.

Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Mark Porter and Michael Perry, Reuters

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney Welcomes International Travelers With Multi-million-Dollar Renovation And New Guest Experiences

International travel to Australia is back in full swing and Four Seasons Hotel Sydney remains the luxury gateway for visitors to explore the city and beyond. Centrally located in the historic Rocks district overlooking one of the world's most beautiful harbors, the hotel is within walking distance of top restaurants, shopping, the ferry terminal and iconic sites like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

A multimillion-dollar renovation of 517 rooms and suites was completed just before the two-year border closure.

"We completely changed the look and feel of the rooms, bringing in lighter colors for a more residential look," says General Manager Uday Rao. "The most popular room is the Full Harbour View Suites which are corner rooms that have bay windows and full panoramic views of the harbor."

Sydney is known for its lively food, wine and spirits scene, and Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is no exception, introducing these new guest experiences:

Living it Up at Lounge 32

Located on the hotel's 32nd floor, Lounge 32 boasts sweeping views of Walsh Bay and offers interactive amenities for suite guests from nitrogen ice cream made by the hotel's pastry team to a roaming trolley of signature cocktails with evening canapes of fresh prawns and oysters.

Grain Bar pours Australia's largest selection of barrel-aged cocktails

The innovative team at Grain Bar has developed their own barrel-aged cocktail program, launching Australia's largest selection with 22 different varieties, all made in-house to expand upon the existing craft cocktails. Each cocktail is aged for around four weeks in a five-litre barrel; production is carefully managed by the bar team who explores the potential of different grains to enhance the flavor, aroma and texture of each drink.

"The magic of barrel aging is that it tames the harsher aspect of a spirit, and makes the whole drink much more cohesive and super mellow, so you enjoy the flavors more," says Grain's Bar Manager Adam Lau. He cites two examples: the Boulevardier, a whisky Negroni that's been aged in a barrel seasoned with coffee liqueur to round it out, and the Aloha, which is essentially a barrel-aged Pina Colada, but a much more elegant and sophisticated version.

Grain also created its own signature beer in partnership with Modus Brewery. The "super approachable" lager features five different grains including the drought-resistant triticale malt, sourced from local farms in regional New South Wales.

Grain Lager and the Grain barrel-aged cocktail selection are available for guests to enjoy at the bar, in-room from their mini bar, or to take home from the Retail Corner. Coming soon is Grain's very own Gin label in partnership with Bondi Liquor Co.

Tea and The Art of the Aperitivo at Mode Kitchen & Bar

Mode Kitchen & Bar has launched two gastronomic experiences. The Italian ritual of "Aperitivo" is a two-hour pre-dinner ritual featuring an expansive selection of Italian street food and antipasto. For those craving something sweeter, afternoon tea is an inspired three-tiered offering of pastries (like coconut and passion fruit mini pavlovas), scones, and savories that are all made in-house.

Why Visit Sydney Now

Australian Fashion Week, May 15-19: The 2023 schedule features 45 designer shows and presentations from the next generation of Australian designers alongside some of the industry's biggest names defining the future of Australian fashion.

VIVID Sydney, May 26-June 17: You'll want to book a corner suite for this annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology in collaboration with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, thinkers and musicians. The city is illuminated and the landscape changes with vibrant 3D projections across the city's architecture.

FIFA Women's World Cup July 20-August 20: The US team will defend their title down under when Sydney hosts the opening and final matches.

Sydney International Boat Show, August 3-6: From paddle boards to super yachts, this is the biggest marine event in the Pacific.

SXSW Sydney, Oct 15-22: The Austin event expands beyond North America for the first time.

About Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Sydney's best-located luxury hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney delivers an unforgettable five-star experience, surrounded by the city's icons and overlooks the sparkling Sydney Harbour. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney provides a preferred address for both business and leisure travelers, and the highly personalized, anticipatory service that Four Seasons guests expect and value around the world. Recent awards and honors include receiving Top Hotel in Australia & New Zealand by DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards.

For more information on Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, visit www.fourseasons.com/Sydney/

Melbourne Welcomes Visitors To Experience Its Extravagant Events Season With Festivals, Live Music And more

This March, Melbourne welcomes visitors back to participate in its exciting events season featuring a wide variety of entertainment offerings with distinguished talent from around the globe. Among the top events on the schedule this year include the world-renowned Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (March 24-30) and Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix (March 30-April 2).

While Melbourne is known to have exciting entertainment year-round, its busy events season, candidly referred to as "Mad March" and "Awesome April" by locals, features some of their largest and most celebrated events. The season kicks off with Moomba Festival, Australia's largest free community festival, and features other large-scale events such as PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

"Victoria has the best line-up of events in Australia and we're looking forward to a huge Mad March and Awesome April this year. Whether food and wine, sport, fashion or culture are your thing – there's an event for everyone," stated Brendan McClements, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Victoria.

One of the most attended events during this time is the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival; best known for the "World's Longest Lunch" – a special dining experience from a celebrated chef, served on a 2,000-foot table in Melbourne's Treasury Gardens. The festival draws in impressive talent from around the world including Michelin-starred chefs and culinary experts for 10 days of interactive events, meals and masterclasses.

"Melbourne's beating heart is its thriving food and drink scene, and Melbourne Food and Wine Festival showcases some of Victoria's best industry talent and diverse produce," said McClements.

Through the festival's "Signature Chef Series" participants can learn from the best-in-class culinary minds, such as Melbourne-born Curtis Stone, or Chef Danny Bowien – known for his game-changing Mission Chinese Food. Or, visitors can experience Melbourne's authentic culinary scene through its "Crawl and Bite" tours. These tours take participants around Melbourne for quick bites and drinks at various places to showcase the diversity of flavors that the city has to offer.

The special events give visitors the opportunity to encounter Victoria's local culture, gastronomy and arts in an interactive and experiential way. This year, the Australian state is gearing up for an unprecedented events season complete with celebrations, celebrity guests, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

For more information, please visit www.visitvictoria.com.

Australia Fully Open To Travel As Last State Reopens Border

Australia was fully open to vaccinated travelers after Western Australia on Thursday became the last state to lift border restrictions.

Western Australia, which covers one third of the nation’s land area, closed its borders to most international and interstate travelers in 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

But the state lifted restrictions on Thursday four months after Sydney began its staged reopening of quarantine-free travel and more than week after all vaccinated tourists became eligible for visas.

Perth’s airport was the scene of emotional reunions as the first of a scheduled 22 domestic flights and five international flights began arriving on Thursday.

Western Australia had successfully stopped the local spread of the coronavirus throughout the pandemic by contract tracing and isolating carriers until the highly contagious omicron variant arrived this year.

The state now reports more than 1,000 new infections every day.

“Australia is now finally back together,” Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce said. “This day has been a long time coming.”

On Wednesday, 61 deaths from COVID-19 were reported across Australia. None was reported that day in Western Australia, Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory.

Australia Welcomes Back Tourists With Toy Koalas, Tim Tams

Australia Welcomes Back Tourists (AP) — International tourists and business travelers began arriving in Australia with few restrictions on Monday, bringing together families in tearful reunions after separations of two years or longer forced by some of the most draconian pandemic measures of any democracy in the world.

Australia closed its borders to tourists in March 2020 in a bid to reduce the local spread of COVID-19, but on Monday removed its final travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers.

Tearful British tourist Sue Witton hugged her adult son Simon Witton when he greeted her at Melbourne’s airport.

“Seven hundred and twenty-four (days) apart and he’s my only son, and I’m alone, so this means the world to me,” she told reporters.

Travelers were greeted at Sydney’s airport by jubilant well-wishers waving toy koalas and favorite Australian foods including Tim Tams chocolate cookies and jars of Vegemite spread.

Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan was on hand to welcome the first arrivals on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles which landed at 6:20 a.m. local time.

“I think there’ll be a very strong rebound in our tourism market. Our wonderful experiences haven’t gone away,” Tehan said.

Danielle Vogl, who lives in Canberra, and her Florida-based partner Eric Lochner have been separated since October 2019 by the travel restrictions.

She said she burst into tears when she heard about the lifting of the restrictions, which will allow them to reunite in April, and telephoned him with the news.

I actually woke him up to tell him, because I thought it was big enough news to do that,” Vogl told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“He couldn’t believe it. … He was like ‘Are you sure, is this true?’ and I’m like ‘Yes, it’s happening. This is over now: we can be together again,’” she added.

Lochner was not eligible for an exemption from the travel ban because the couple weren’t married or living together.

“It’s been a very long and very cruel process for us,” Vogl said.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said all travelers’ vaccination status would be checked before they arrived to avoid a repeat of Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa debacle.

Djokovic was issued with a visa through an automated process before he left Spain to compete in the Australian Open in January but was deported after he arrived in Melbourne because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said she expected tourist numbers would take two years to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

“This is a really great start,” Harrison said. “This is what the industry had been asking us for, you know, just give us our international guests back and we will take it from there.”

Qantas on Monday was bringing in passengers from eight overseas destinations including Vancouver, Singapore, London and New Delhi.

The Sydney-based airline’s chief executive Alan Joyce said bookings have been strong since the federal government announced two weeks ago that the country was relaxing restrictions.

“It has been a tough two years for everybody in the tourism industry, but today is really one of the big steps on the way back to a full recovery so we are very excited,” Joyce said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 1.2 million people had visas to enter Australia with 56 international flights due to touch down in the first 24 hours of the border reopening.

Australia on Monday reported 17,736 new COVID-19 infections and 34 deaths. Australia’s death toll since the pandemic began is 4,929.

Australia imposed some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions on its citizens and permanent residents in March 2020 to prevent them from bringing COVID-19 home.

Travelers had to apply for an exemption from the travel ban, but tourism wasn’t an accepted reason. International students and skilled migrants were prioritized when the border restrictions were relaxed in November in response to an increasing vaccination rate among the Australian population. Tourists from New Zealand, Japan and South Korea were also allowed in early.

Australian states and territories also have their own COVID-19 rules. The strictest are in Western Australia state, which covers a third of the island continent.

Australia To Open Borders To Vaccinated Travelers On Feb. 21

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia will open its borders to all vaccinated tourists and business travelers from Feb. 21 in a further relaxation of pandemic restrictions announced Monday.

Australia imposed some of the world’s toughest travel restrictions on its citizens and permanent residents in March 2020 to prevent them from bringing COVID-19 home.

When the border restrictions were relaxed in November in response to an increasing vaccination rate among the Australian population, international students and skilled migrants were prioritized over tourists in being welcomed back to Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his senior ministers agreed on Monday that the border would reopen to all vaccinated visas holders from Feb. 21.

Morrison said visitors must have proof of vaccination. He referred to Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic being deported by the Australian government last month because he was not vaccinated against coronavirus.

“Events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message, I think, to everyone around the world that that is the requirement to enter into Australia,” Morrison said.

The Djokovic case demonstrated that visitors gaining visas through an automated process before setting off for Australia does not guarantee that they will meet entry requirements on arrival.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said visitors who could provide proof of a medical reason why they could not be vaccinated could apply for a travel exemption.

Visitors to Australia could also have to contend with various states’ COVID-19 rules if they move around the country.

The strictest state border rules are enforced by Western Australia which covers a third of the island continent.

The state allows only 265 international arrivals a week and requires a 14-day quarantine period.

Australia delayed its staged border reopening after two Australians who returned from southern Africa on Nov. 27 became the first to test positive for the omicron variant.

The arrivals of students and skilled workers were postponed by two weeks until Dec. 15.

Tourist operators have been lobbying the government to bring tourists back sooner. The southern hemisphere summer is in its final month.

The Australian Tourism Export Council, the peak industry body representing the nation’s tourism export sector, said tourism operations were looking forward to rebuilding their markets.

“Australian tourism businesses will rejoice in the news that our borders will reopen to all international travelers,” the council’s managing director Peter Shelley said.

“It’s been a long, hard and desperate road for every tourism business across the country and we have lost many along the way, but this news will give those who have survived a clear target to work towards and a start point for the rebuilding of the industry,” Shelley added.

Australia’s Barrier Reef Erupts In Color As Corals Spawn

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is spawning in an explosion of color as the World Heritage-listed natural wonder recovers from life-threatening coral bleaching episodes.

Scientists on Tuesday night recorded the corals fertilizing billions of offspring by casting sperm and eggs into the Pacific Ocean off the Queensland state coastal city of Cairns.

The spawning event lasts for two or three days.

The network of 2,500 reefs covering 348,000 square kilometers (134,000 square miles) suffered significantly from coral bleaching caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in 2016, 2017 and last year. The bleaching damaged two-thirds of the coral.

Gareth Phillips, a marine scientist with Reef Teach, a tourism and educational business, is studying the spawning as part of a project to monitor the reef’s health.

“It is gratifying to see the reef give birth,” Phillips said in a statement on Wednesday. “It’s a strong demonstration that its ecological functions are intact and working after being in a recovery phase for more than 18 months.”

“The reef has gone through its own troubles like we all have, but it can still respond — and that gives us hope. I think we must all focus on the victories as we emerge from the pandemic,” Phillips added.

Sydney Opens To Vaccinated After 100-Plus Days Of Lockdown

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Sydney hairdressers, gyms, cafés and bars reopened to fully vaccinated customers on Monday for the first time in more than 100 days after Australia’s largest city achieved a vaccination benchmark.

Sydney planned to reopen on the Monday after 70% of the New South Wales state population aged 16 and older were fully vaccinated.

By Monday, 73.5% of the target population was fully vaccinated and more than 90% have received at least one dose.

Some businesses opened at midnight due to demand from people impatient to enjoy their freedom.

More pandemic restrictions will be removed at the 80% benchmark, and New South Wales residents will be free to travel overseas for the first time since March last year.

New South Wales reported 496 new infections in the latest 24-hour period and eight COVID-19 deaths.

The infection rate will rise as Sydney residents return to work and become more mobile.

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said the infection rate and numbers of COVID-19 patients being admitted to hospitals were lower than modeling had predicted.

“So that’s positive and gives hope and confidence as we open up in a measured way we’re in a very good position to keep people safe,” Perrottet said.

“There’s still restrictions in place. It’s not a free for all. It is opening up in a measured way and if everyone can look after each other and respect each other, we can get people back into work, we can get businesses open, while at the same time keeping people safe,” he added.

Australia’s Capital Extends Lockdown Until Oct. 15

CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s capital city of Canberra will remain locked down for a second month after the local government reported 22 new coronavirus infections.

Australian Capital Territory locked down Aug. 12 after a single case linked to a Sydney outbreak of the virus’ delta variant was detected.

Territorial Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Tuesday that Canberra’s lockdown will be extended until Oct. 15.

Canberra is surrounded by New South Wales state, where Australia’s delta outbreak began when a limousine driver tested positive June 16. He was infected while transporting a U.S. cargo flight crew from Sydney’s airport.

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and has been locked since June 26.

Before delta came to Canberra last month, the city of 430,000 people had not recorded a single case of coronavirus community infection since July 10, 2020.

Asia Today: Australia, New Zealand To Partially Open Borders

 

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia and New Zealand on Friday announced a partial opening of their borders to travel between the neighboring countries.

Passengers will be able to fly to the Australian cities of Sydney and Darwin without going into quarantine from Oct. 16 if they have spent at least two weeks in parts of New Zealand that are not considered to be a COVID-19 hot spot, Transport Minister Michael McCormack said.

But New Zealand will continue to insist on travelers from Australia going into hotel quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

“We want to open up Australia to the world,” McCormack said. “This is the first part of it.”

The two countries separated by the Tasman Sea have long said the return of international travel would begin with a so-called Trans-Tasman Bubble.

Australian authorities have concluded that New Zealand posed a low risk of COVID-19 transmission to Australia, McCormack said.

But travelers who have visited a New Zealand “hot spot” — defined as a region that has reported three new infections a day over three days — would not be exempt from quarantine.

The South Australia state capital Adelaide would likely become the next city to allow quarantine-free travel from New Zealand, McCormack said.

When New Zealand would allow quarantine-free travel from Australia was a question for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, he said.

Australian states and territories have restricted movement across their borders to reduce the pandemic’s spread, particularly from Victoria state which has accounted for 802 of the nation’s 888 coronavirus deaths.

In other developments from the Asia-Pacific region:

— India’s COVID-19 fatalities are closing on 100,000 with another 1,095 deaths reported in the past 24 hours. The update by the Health Ministry on Friday raised India’s death toll to 99,773. Its reported deaths are low for a country with nearly 1.4 billion people and more than 6.3 million cases of coronavirus infection, but experts say it may not be counting many deaths. The ministry also reported 81,484 new cases of infection on Friday. Total cases jumped from 1 million in mid-July to more than 6 million in less than two and a half months. New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru are the main urban centers of the infections, accounting for one in every seven confirmed cases and one in every five deaths in the country.

— Two of the most popular Philippine tourist destinations have partially reopened, drawing only a fraction of their usual huge crowds given continuing coronavirus restrictions. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said 35 local tourists came on the first day of the reopening of Boracay, a central island famous for its powdery white sands, azure waters and stunning sunsets. Only local tourists from regions with low-level quarantine designations could go, subject to safeguards, including tests showing they are coronavirus-free. The mountain city of Baguio, regarded as a summer hideaway for its pine trees, cool breezes and picturesque upland views, has been reopened to tourists only from its northern region, she told ABS-CBN News. She said the revival of the tourism industry is being done “very slowly, cautiously,” adding mayors and governors would have to approve the reopening of tourism spots. “We really have to be careful,” she said. Like in most countries, the pandemic has devastated the tourism industry in the Philippines, which now has the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia at more than 314,000, with 5,504 deaths.