Campaign aims to lure Singapore travellers

Australia is hoping a tourism campaign lures travellers from Singapore ahead of two-way quarantine-free travel resuming between the two countries.

From Sunday, fully vaccinated Singaporeans can arrive in Australia without quarantining as long as they return a negative COVID-19 test beforehand.

Tourism Australia has launched a campaign to encourage travel from the city-state worth about $1.5 billion to the Australian economy.

“It is not going to make up for the loss of international but, surely, it is a great start,” managing director Phillipa Harrison told the Nine Network on Thursday.

“(Singaporeans) are very familiar with Australia. They travel far and wide around Australia.

“That is why we are back in the market with our first conversion brand campaign in quite a period of time, convincing them to come back.”

Australians were earlier this month given the green light to travel to Singapore.

Ms Harrison expects post-COVID tourism to rebound by 50 per cent relatively quickly as international and domestic restrictions reduce.

“There is a lot of demand for travel around New South Wales, Victoria and also the ACT,” she said.

“It is a good start, but we do need all of the borders open as soon as we can.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged quarantine-free travel with South Korea and Japan could be on the horizon.