JAKARTA - Australia has decided to prioritize the return of skilled migrants and students, not opening its borders to foreign tourists until next year, the Australian Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was expected to hit its COVID-19 vaccination benchmark on Tuesday, at which time the country could start opening up, with 80 percent of the population aged 16 and over having received two doses of the vaccine.

Last week, he outlined plans to allow vaccinated nationals and permanent residents to fly overseas from November for the first time since a particularly harsh travel ban took effect in March last year.

However, PM Scott Morrison said after Australians, the next priority was skilled migrants and international students entering Australia before tourists.

Australian immigration is at its lowest point since World War II due to pandemic restrictions.

The pandemic has also had a devastating impact on Australian universities which rely heavily on fees paid by international students. The education sector is concerned that students will enroll in other countries unless Australia immediately opens its borders to them.

"The next priority will be skilled migrants who are very important to the country and who have already received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as students who are coming and returning to Australia for their studies", PM Morrison told Seven Network television.

"We will get international visitors too, I believe next year", added PM Morrison.

The Australian Tourism Export Council, which represents a sector that generated A$45 billion or US$33 billion a year in international tourists before the pandemic, wants international visitors to return in March.

The Kangaroo Country is racing to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine to its citizens, as the outbreak of the more contagious Delta variant that began in Sydney in June continues to spread.

New South Wales outperforms other states in COVID-19 vaccination rates, with Sydney Airport expected to be the first to reopen to vaccinated travelers.


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