ASX 200 travel shares leap as Australia scraps COVID-19 vaccine mandates for international arrivals

Travel shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) are jumping today amid news that will make it easier for tourists to travel to Australia.

Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN), Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares are all rising today.

Webjet shares are rising 2.08% today, Flight Centre shares are leaping 2.18% and Qantas shares are up 2.25%.

So what could be impacting ASX 200 travel shares today?

ASX 200 travel shares lift

ASX 200 travel shares are lifting amid news that could boost international travel numbers into Australia.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced yesterday that a COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be required for international tourists travelling to Australia. All travellers will also no longer be required to declare their status on arrival to the country. However, masks will still be required on inbound international flights.

Minister Butler said:

The chief medical officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of COVID

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil described the news as “great news for families coming home from school holidays”.

Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to choose Australia as a destination.

I know anyone who has travelled internationally since the borders have opened will find this as one less thing to worry about – especially as more Australians get back to travelling overseas.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted at Sydney airport on the weekend as Australians embark on school holiday travel, Guardian Australia reported.

Large amounts of people were seen lining up outside the terminal, the publication reported. Union strikes also had an impact on arrivals at airport train stations.

Meanwhile, Adelaide Airport is also forecasting that Friday this week will be the busiest travel day since the onset of COVID-19, Indaily reports. The airport is predicting 30,000 travellers at the airport on Friday.

Share price recap

The Qantas share price has shed 5% in a year, while Webjet shares have jumped nearly 6%. Flight Centre shares have soared 15% in a year.

For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted 9% in the past year.

The post ASX 200 travel shares leap as Australia scraps COVID-19 vaccine mandates for international arrivals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• How did ASX travel shares perform in June?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Here’s why I think the Webjet share price could fly higher in 2022
• Why did the Flight Centre share price tumble 15% in June?
• Why did the Qantas share price plunge 19% in June?

Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group Limited and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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