After Australia, now it's New Zealand's turn to reopen its border controls to the world next month after more than two years of being closed due to Covid-19.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the matter on Wednesday, in which she described the influx of tourists as boosting the country's economy.
The announcement also means the end of the border blockade was implemented several months earlier than previously scheduled.
The measures taken by New Zealand have helped keep infection mortality low compared to other countries. However, due to the faster spread of Omicron variants, causing the country to continue to close its borders from foreign countries.
PM Ardern also said that vaccinated tourists from Australia were allowed to enter the country without having to be quarantined from April 12 compared to previously planned.
Meanwhile, tourists from visa -exempt countries including the United States, Britain and Singapore will be allowed to enter the country from May 1.
Previously, the border was scheduled to open to Australians by July and to all other tourists by October.
The lifting of restrictions at the border is expected to stimulate the wider tourism industry which was previously the country's largest export passenger.
The New Zealand dollar traded higher following the announcement, as well as supported by slightly declining US dollar trading ahead of the FOMC policy decision.
