New Zealand is opening its borders to tourists from around 60 countries for the first time in over two years since the country eased its pandemic restrictions.

Since the coronavirus pandemic broke out more than two years ago, New Zealand has implemented some of the world's strictest border restrictions. Now the country is easing most of those restrictions, opening its borders on Monday to around 60 countries whose tourists are exempt from the country's visa requirements.

The US, UK, Japan, Sweden and most countries in Europe are now allowed to travel to New Zealand again. Three weeks ago, the country opened to tourists from Australia.

Tourists who want to travel to New Zealand must be vaccinated and tested before and after arrival.

Before the pandemic, the country had around three million visitors annually and tourism made up over five percent of the country's total economy.

Source:TT-AP