Australia ends Covid-19 vaccination...

The change is set to boost the Australian cruise industry

The New South Wales (NSW) state government and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee have agreed to remove Covid-19 mandates for cruise ships.

The new regulation will bring Australia's cruise protocols in line with other parts of the world, with the country being one of the last major cruise hubs to hold on to Covid-19 measures.

Speaking about the removal of the vaccination requirement, NSW Premier Chris Minns said: "Given these restrictions don't apply to airports and other parts of the transport economy, they shouldn't apply to cruise ships either."

Although The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has rescinded regulations, it will be up to individual state governments to make it official.

In a statement supporting the move, Virgin Voyages chief brand officer Nathan Rosenberg said: “We thank the Premier for his decision on the removal of these regulations. It will finally bring Australia in line with the rest of the world.

"We encourage the remaining states to follow suit as soon as they can, given the high levels of interest to cruise by Australians and the contribution it makes to the economy nationally.”