There's concern New Zealand's tourism industry will be left behind as Australia opens its borders isolation free.
New Zealand's borders are set to open to most people later this year but visitors must self isolate on arrival, something that's not required in Australia.
Flight Centre managing director David Coombes told AM the isolation requirement could be a deal-breaker for many tourists.
"I think that's a really significant impact. I can't think of too many people who are coming for tourism reasons who are prepared to self isolate for seven to 10 days," Coombes said on Wednesday.
"They've got to find somewhere to self-isolate and then do it. I think that's okay for families coming home to visit and that's great, but that's a pretty small sector and we do fear for our tourism businesses who are being left behind."
Coombes said while there will be exceptions to the rule, it's not a large group of people who are willing to isolate.
"We are actually seeing it from an outbound perspective where there are segments of our customers who are saying, 'actually by the time we come back we think most of these requirements will be gone so we are prepared to travel'."
Earlier in the month Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed New Zealand's borders will open using a staggered approach over several months.
Fully vaccinated Kiwis arriving from Australia will be the first to skip MIQ and self-isolate. They will be welcomed from March followed by Kiwis in other parts of the world, skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wage (NZ$27 an hour), and people with Working Holiday Scheme visas from later that same month.
The border will then open to offshore temporary visa holders, who can still meet the relevant visa requirements, from April 13
Though no specific date is given, the border will open to anyone from Australia, as well as countries with whom New Zealand has a visa-waiver agreement - more than 50 - from July. People with Accredited Employer Work Visas will also be allowed in, meaning the skilled and health worker border exception can be phased out.
This step is likely to begin when there is a "much larger" number of cases in New Zealand than there are now. There is also a "high likelihood" this step will be brought forward.
And then from October - again, no specific date is given - the border will open to visitors from anywhere in the world.
Ardern said there was still a strong need for self-isolation when announcing the plan.
"I want to note that we will be continually monitoring the need for and the value of self-isolation.
"The strong advice from our public health officials is that we still need it to manage our way through Omicron, but there will be a time in the not too distant future when that will not be the case. For now, though we must continue to heed the public health advice that has served us so well."
The steps only apply to fully vaccinated people, with unvaccinated travellers still required to go through MIQ.
But while there is concern tourists might not come here, Coombes says Kiwis are desperate to leave.
He said Flight Centre data shows 88 percent of people want to leave the country for a holiday. And the old classics are still at the top of the list.
"What's most in-demand… is a beach holiday. It's top of the list but coming in really close behind is luxury and we are starting to hear this expression called revenge travel," Coombes said. "People want to take revenge on COVID and all they've been through by saying, 'I've saved money over the last two years and now I am ready to get out there with a little bit of style'."
